Serpent lore

Although there are many varieties of snakes in India, the only snake that is worshipped is the cobra. The reason for this has to do with its hood that enables it to be easily distinguished in its still form and its moving form. The hood is raised only when the cobra is still and coiled. In art, stillness is always represented by the hooded serpent. Movement is typically depicted showing two copulating serpents because while copulating, serpents have to move continuously, twisting around each other. Thus, the serpent in its two forms hooded and copulating allows itself to be used to represent stillness and movement, the two fundamental principles of Indian philosophy. The former represents the spirit and the later represents the matter. The former represents the other world of divinity, the latter the mundane everyday world.

Like all animals, serpents are children of the Rishi Kashyapa; their mother is Kadru. It is said they rolled on the grass where the pot of nectar, Amrita, was once placed which is why they are able to shed old skin and rejuvenate themselves. This ability of serpents to rejuvenate themselves made them symbols of rebirth and renewal and worthy of worship.

Nagas reside in a sub-terranean realm known as Bhogawati; bhog means pleasure and wati means land, indicating the land of the serpent is the land of the pleasure. The entrance to the land of serpent is usually through a termite hill. It is said to be made of gold and gems, perhaps leading to the folklore where the treasures are usually protected by hooded serpents.

The folklore exists that after the destruction of Khandava forest which was located in the north, the serpent came to the south, which is why serpent shrines are found across south India. In Kerala, there are temples cared for by traditional families of priestesses who are believed to have access to secret serpent lore.

It is said that some Nagas have one hood, but the more divine ones have multiple hoods. Kaliya had five hoods, Sesha has innumerable. The hood sometimes has a jewel known as Nagamani. These Nagamanis possess magical powers. In Mahabharata, serpent-princess Ulupi who marries Arjuna uses Nagamani to restores him to life when he is accidentally killed by his own son Babruvahana. In Tamil Nadu, the story goes that Arjuna sacrificed his son Aravan born of the serpent-princess Ulupi on the ninth day of battle to ensure victory for the Pandavas.

The Mahabharata also speaks of King Nahusha, who abused his power when he was invited to temporarily rule land of the gods, while their king, Indra, was away. Nahusha, an ancestor of the Pandavas, demanded that the seven sages carry his palanquin. In anger, the sages cursed him to be born on earth a serpent until he realised the error of his ways.

Various serpents are associated with various gods. The Naga Karkotaka coils itself around Shiva's neck while Vishnu rests on the coils of the serpent Shesha whose hood provides foundation of the earth. Patanjali, the author of the yoga-sutra, is said to be a Naga.

The worship of serpents in India is restricted not just to Hinduism; Buddhists and Jains worship Nagas too. It is said that serpent Vasuki raised its hood behind Buddha at the moment he attained Nirvana, just as he raised his hood to protect baby Krishna from torrential rains as his father took him across the river Yamuna. In Jain art, the Tirthankara Parshvanath is depicted sitting under the hood of a Naga.

The story goes that king of Kashmir had banned the worship of Nagas after converting to Buddhism. When he did this, there was drought. Hence to restore rain and fertility in land, he worshipped serpents. Serpents have a close association with water. The movement of the serpent has been compared to the wavy movements of rivers. Serpents have always been associated with fertility, hence prosperity and the secret art of healing.

Disclaimer > This column attempts to explain sacred beliefs in the spirit of genuine and respectful curiosity without claiming any authority on the same.

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