SNAKE IN INDIAN CULTURE

Some Westerners portray the image of India as a land of snake charmers. It must have gone to them through words of mouth through some tourists who visited the country and watched amazingly the music of the snake charmers and the dancing of the snakes to the tune. It is a sheer misconception as the snake can neither hear any music nor it has any memory to wait for the favourite tune. Indians are also not so friendly with snakes. 58,000 people have died in India due to snake bites in 2020. The total deaths here by snake bites between 2000 to 2019  were about 12 lakhs according to newspaper reports.

Whatever it may be, snake has become part of Indian culture. Since ages snake worship is being followed in India. Our ancient culture portrays snake as an entity of strength. Snake carvings, idols, paintings etc can be found in temples all over India. Lord Shiva is depicted wearing a snake around his neck. Maha Vishnu is seen in yoga nidra on Shesha Nag. Astika was the son of Jaratkaru and serpant goddess Manasa. Astika saved the life of Takshaka the king of snakes during the Sarpa Satra. Astika convinced the king to end victimization of the serpant race. That day was the Shukla Paksha Panjami  in the month of Shravan. Since then this day is celebrated as Nagpanchami.

Adishesha also called as Sheshanaga is also the king of nagas. Adishesha holds the universe on his hoods and sings glories of Lord Vishnu. According to Mahabharata Sheshanag was born to Lord Kashyap and wife Kadru. Kadru gave birth to thousand snakes and Sheshanaga was the eldest.

Vasuki is the snake on the neck of Lord Shiva. The gem Nagamani is believed to be on his head. This Vasuki was used as a rope for the Samudra  Manthan, the churning of the ocean of milk. Another well known snake is Kaliya, the poisonous snake with hundred and ten hoods lived in Jamuna river in Vrindavan. This was the snake on which Sree Krishna danced, which is known as Kaliya Narthana. Manasa Devi is the Hindu goddess of snakes. She is worshipped mainly for prevention and cure of snake bite. She is the sister of Vasuki and depicted as sitting on a lotus.

While these characters belong to the mythology, there are many mystical stories about snakes. All these have become part of our culture.

K V George