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==Śeṣanāga ==

“Anantaś ca Asmi Nāgānāṁ"  sukta states that the Śeṣanāga is Ādi Śeṣa. He  is the eldest son of sage Kaśyapa, the grandson of Lord Brahma and beautiful Kadru, daughter of Daksha Prajapati. She bore thousand sons of equal splendor.  His perennial residence is Pātala and emperor king of all  Nāgas. He is Ananta Shesha  thousand-headed  serpent. Ādi Śeṣa is Sankarṣana the first expansion of  Lord Vishnu . He has thousands of faces and is fully independent and appears by His own will. He is always ready to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.  His massive form that floats coiled in space, on the ocean of milk, to form the bed on which Vishnu lies. When he uncoils, time moves forward and creation takes place. When he coils back, the universe ceases to exist. The younger brothers of Ādi Śeṣa are Vasuki, Anant, Airavata, Dhanunjaya, Shankhpala, Takshak , Karkotak, Nahush, Kambal, Padma, Mahapadma and Kulik, among others are the source of the snake species. Ananta Shesha and  Vasuki are the chiefs of Satva Guna. Airavata, Dhanunjaya  and  Shankhpala are the chiefs of Rajoguna  and Takshak  and Karkotak are the chiefs of Tamoguna. The age old practice of the worship of the Nāgas or Serpents  at Pagodas, Temples, and Statues  has a divine message that Paramātmā  resides in all forms. Worship of Nagas is a constant reminder to humans to live in harmony with Nature. And the ideal way to worship Nagas is by protecting the forests and grooves that are home of snakes and other animals. All celebrate the same reason, but practiced procedures are specifically Naga Puja performed  with the chant of  with Sarpa Mantras  and  Veda Mantras  on  the Shravana Chaturthi, on Panchami, Kartik Chaturthi, on Panchami. Naga Panchami  is  on the fifth day of bright half of Lunar month of  Shravana (July/August)  a traditional worship of serpents with milk, sweets, flowers, lamps and even sacrifices, as part of the creation force and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family. Fast is observed on this day.  Nagula Chavithi is observed on the fourth day (Chaturthi) after Deepavali Amavasya during Karthika month. Nagula Chavithi day is noted for the notorious practice of offering milk and eggs to the snakes, especially cobras near snake pits. Snake charmers also bring cobras to villages and towns which are fed with milk by devotees. Such practices should not be encouraged as it leads to the death of snakes. Snakes don’t drink milk but the practice has been encouraged by popular beliefs.

Sivkishen, Author