Naag Panchami 1839

From the Mahabharata

Long ago, after the churning of the ocean, the divine horse Uchchaihshravas rose from the waters. Kadru, the mother of the serpents, and her co-wife Vinata argued about its colour. Vinata said it was white. Kadru said its tail was black, and they wagered that the loser would become the winner's slave. Kadru told her thousand serpent sons to cover the horse's tail as black hairs. When they refused, she cursed them: "In the snake sacrifice of King Janamejaya, Agni shall burn you all." Brahma and the gods let the curse stand, because the serpents often harmed other creatures.

Long afterwards, the serpent Takshaka killed King Parikshit. His son, King Janamejaya, resolved to avenge his father, and began a great snake sacrifice. Priests in black robes poured offerings into the fire and called out the names of the serpents, and the serpents, helpless under their mother's curse, fell into the flames in thousands.

Vasuki, king of the serpents, was overcome with grief. His sister Jaratkaru had been married to a sage for this very hour, so that her son could save the serpents. She told her son Astika what had to be done. Astika promised his uncle, "Truly I shall free you from this curse," and went to the sacrifice. The gatekeepers stopped him at first, but he won them over, entered, and praised the king, the priests and the sacred fire.

Janamejaya was pleased and wished to give the young Brahmana a boon. Just then Takshaka, who had been hiding with Indra, was drawn by the mantras toward the fire. As he came near the flames, Astika asked the king to end the sacrifice. The king offered him gold, silver, cattle, anything else, if only the sacrifice might go on, but Astika asked for nothing else. At last the king said, "Let it be done as Astika has said." Astika called out three times, and Takshaka stayed hanging in the air, never touching the fire. The sacrifice ended and the serpents were saved.

The serpents who survived were full of joy and offered Astika a boon. He asked that whoever recites the story of what he did should have no fear of serpents. They agreed. The Mahabharata says that whoever remembers Astika, the saviour of the serpents, is protected, and that reciting this story drives away all fear of snakes.

Another story

When Kadru cursed her sons, the serpents, led by Vasuki, went to Brahma. Brahma told them not to be anxious: Vasuki should give his sister Jaratkaru in marriage to a Brahmana sage, and their son Astika would stop the sacrifice. Brahma gave this assurance on the Panchami, the fifth day of the moon, and Astika saved the serpents on a Panchami too. That is why the Panchami is so dear to the Nagas.