Sati (Dakshayani) was the youngest daughter of Daksha, the chief of the gods. When Sati grew up she set her heart on Shiva, worshipping him in secret. In the Swayamvara of Sati, Daksha invited all gods and princes except Shiva. Sati cast her wreath into air, calling upon Shiva to receive the garland; and behold him stood in midst of the court with the wreath about his neck. Daksha had no choice but to marry Sati with Shiva. One day Daksha made arrangements for a great horse sacrifice, and invited all the gods omitting only Shiva. Sati, being greatly humiliated, went to the banquet and Sati released the inward consuming fire and fell dead at Daksha's feet. When Shiva heard this news, he burned with anger, and tore from his head a lock of hair, glowing with energy, and cast upon the earth. Vīrabhadra sprang from it, his tall body reached the high heavens, he was dark as the clouds, he had a thousand arms, three burning eyes, and fiery hair; he wore a garland of skulls and carried terrible weapons. Vīrabhadra bowed at Shiva's feet and asked his will. Shiva directed Vīrabhadra: "Lead my army against Daksha and destroy his sacrifice; fear not the Brahmanas, for thou art a portion of my very self". On this direction of Shiva, Vīrabhadra appeared with Shiva's ganas in the midst of Daksha's assembly like a storm wind and broke the sacrificial vessels, polluted the offerings, insulted the priests and finally cut off Daksha's head, trampled on Indra, broke the staff of Yama, scattered the gods on every side.Local folklore says, that in order to protect the souls, Shiva created Muneeswara. He possessed seven qualities, and based on them he was called as Shivamuni, Mahamuni, Thavamuni, Naathamuni, Jadamuni, Dharammamuni, Pandi Muni, Eswara Muni, Vazhamuni.

Meaning: We meditate on Lord Ganesha - who is clad in white (representing purity), who is all pervading (present everywhere), whose complexion is gray like that of ash (glowing with spiritual splendor), who has four arms, who has bright countenance (depicting inner calm and happiness) and who can destroy all obstacles (in our spiritual and worldly path).

Meaning:The Lord with the curved trunk and a mighty body, who has the luster of a million suns, I pray to thee Oh Lord, to remove the obstacles from all the actions I intend to perform.

Meaning:I worship day and night that elephant faced Lord Ganesha who is like sun to the lotus face of Mother Parvati. Giver of many boons, the single tusked Ganesh, I salute Thee to give e a boon.

Meaning: The Lord with the elephant face, served by all the Ganas, One who takes as His food, the essence of Kapitta and Jamboophala (these are two favorite fruits of Ganesh), son of Uma (Mother Parvati), destroyer of misery of the devotees, controller of obstacles, we worship Your Lotus Feet.

Meaning: We invite You, the Lord of spiritual faith (of Lord Shiva). You are the wisest among the wise, the best to be given as a standard of comparison. You are the senior Lord, Lord of the Vedic manthras, listening to our prayers. Please visit our home with prosperous things and be seated here.

Meaning: I prostrate before Lord Vinaayaka who joyously holds modaka in His hand, who bestows salvation, who wears the moon as a crown in His head, who is the sole leader of those who lose themselves in the world. The leader of the leaderless who destroyed the elephant demon called Gajaasura and who quickly destroys the sins of those who bow down to Him, I worship such a Lord Ganesh.

Meaning: I meditate eternally on Him, the Lord of the Ganas, who is frightening to those not devoted, who shines like the morning sun, to whom all the Gods and demons bow, who removes the great distress of His devotees and who is the best among the best.

Meaning: I bow down with my whole mind to the shining Ganapati who brings happiness to all the worlds, who destroyed the demon Gajasura, who has a big belly, beautiful elephant face, who is immortal, who gives mercy, forgiveness and happiness to those who bow to Him and who bestows fame and a well disposed mind.

Meaning: I worship the ancient elephant God who destroys the pains of the poor, who is the abode of Aum, who is the first son of Lord Shiva (Shiva who is the destroyer of triple cities), who destroys the pride of the enemies of the Gods, who is frightening to look at during the time of world's destruction, who is fierce like an elephant in rut and who wears Dhananjaya and other serpents as his ornaments.

Meaning: I constantly reflect upon that single tusked God only, whose lustrous tusk is very beautiful, who is the son of Lord Shiva, (Shiva, the God of destruction), whose form is immortal and unknowable, who tears asunder all obstacles, and who dwells forever in the hearts of the Yogis.

Meaning: He who recites this every morning with devotion, these five gems about Lord Ganapati and who remembers in his heart the great Ganesha, will soon be endowed with a healthy life free of all blemishes, will attain learning, noble sons, a long life that is calm and pleasant and will be endowed with spiritual and material prosperity.

Meaning:Every day, I bow down to that Lord, the son of Gowri, the Lord one who lives in the heart of the devotees, blessing them always with good health and prosperity.

Meaning: Starting from here the twelve names of Ganesha are mentioned and he is worshipped in those different forms. The first as the Lord with the curved trunk; second, as the one with only one tusk, third, as the one with black (red/brown) eyes, fourth, as the one with giant structure.

Meaning: Fifth, as the one with a big (long) stomach, six, as the one with a huge body Seven, as the remover of obstacles, eight, as the one with smoke gray color

Meaning: Ninth, as the one with moon on the front of His head, tenth, as the foremost leader, eleventh, as the leader of the ganas, twelfth as the one with elephant face.

Meaning: Any person, who remembers these twelve names of Ganesha, three times in a day, will have all their obstacles and fear removed and will attain success. (This group of verses is said to be sage Narada's offering to Lord Ganesh.)

Meaning: The various names and associated forms of God Ganesha are enumerated and need to be meditated upon here - the one with an auspicious face, the single tusked Lord, the one who is of red color, the one with the ears of an elephant, the one with a big stomach, the one with a jovial disposition, the controller of obstacles, the Lord of the Ganas.

Meaning:The one of smoke gray color, the leader of the ganas, the one who has moon in the front of his forehead, the elephant faced one, the one with a curved trunk (or broken tusk), the one with big (basket like) ears, the one who is heroic like a buffalo, the elder brother of Skanda (Skanda is another name for Lord Subrahmanya)

Meaning:Whoever the one who recites and listens to these sixteen names at the beginning of studies, at the time of marriage, while entering or departing a place, or at the battle field, all their obstacles will be removed. Even the Gods worship Lord Ganesha to receive the fulfillment of their actions. Oh Lord Ganesh, the One who has this power of destroying all the obstacles in the way of the devotees, I prostrate before you.

"I repeatedly offer my obeisances unto you, the controller of the thirty primal demigods; unto you, the original father of all created beings; unto you, whose character is gracious; unto you, whose head is crested by the sickle moon arisen from the waves of the Ganga and unto you, who are a festival for the eyes of the fair goddess Gauri."

sutapta chamikara-chandra-nila-

padma-pravalambuda-kanti-vastraih

sa nritya-raggesta-vara-pradaya

kaivalya-nathaya vrisa-dhvajaya

"I offer my obeisances unto you, who are dressed in garments resembling molten gold, the moon, blue lotuses, coral, and dark rain clouds; unto you, who bestow the most desirable boons on your devotees by means of your delightful dancing; unto you, who are the master of the impersonalists and unto you, whose flag bears the image of the bull."

sudhamzu-suryagni-vilochanena

tamo-bhide te jagatah shivaya

sahasra-shubhramshu-sahasra-rashmi-

sahasra-sajjit-tvara-tejase'stu

"I offer my obeisances unto you, who dispells darkness with your three eyes - the moon, the sun and fire; unto you, who causes auspiciousness for all the living entities of the universe and unto you, whose potency easily defeats that of thousands of moons and suns."

nageza-ratnojjvala-vigrahaya

shardula-charmamzuka-divya-tejase

sahasra-patropari samsthitaya

varaggada-mukta-bhuja-dvayaya

"I offer my obeisances unto you, whose form is brilliantly illuminated by the jewels of Ananta, the king of snakes; unto you, who are clothed by a tiger-skin and thus radiate divine effulgence; unto you, who sits upon a thousand-petalled lotus and unto you, whose two arms are adorned by lusterous bangles."

su-nupura-ragjita-pada-padma

ksarat-sudha-bhritya-sukha-pradaya

vichitra-ratnaugha-vibhusitaya

premanam evadya harau videhi

"I offer my obeisances unto you, who brings happiness to your servitors, as you pour on them the liquid nectar from your two reddish lotus feet, which ring with charming anklebells. Obeisances unto you, who is adorned with an abundance of gems - please endow me with pure love for Lord Hari."

sri rama govinda mukunda shaure

sri krishna narayana vasudeva

ity-adi namamririta-pana-matta-

bhriggadhi-payakhila-dukha-hantre

"O Shri Rama, O Govinda, O Mukunda, O Shauri, O Shri krishna, O Narayana, O Vaasudeva!' I offer my obeisances unto you, Lord Shiva, the monarch of intoxicated bee-like devotees, maddened by drinking the nectar of these and other holy names of the Lord. Obeisances unto you, the destroyer of all grief."

sri naradadyaih satatam sugopya-

jijjasita-yashu vara-pradaya

tebhyo harer bhakti-sukha-pradaya

shivaya sarva-gurave namo namaha

"I offer my respectful obeisances again and again unto you, who is forever enquired of confidentially by Shri Narada and other sages; unto you, who also grants favors to them very quickly; unto you, who bestows the happiness of Hari-bhakti; unto you, who creates auspiciousness and unto you, who is the guru of everyone."

sri gaura-netrosava-maggalaya

tat-prana-nathaya rasa-pradaya

sada samutkantha-govinda-lila-

gana-pravinaya namo'stu tubhyam

"I offer my obeisances unto you, who are a festival of auspiciousness for the eyes of Goddess Gauri; unto you, who is the monarch of her life-breath; unto you, who is capable of bestowing transcendental rasa and unto you, who is expert in forever singing songs of the pastimes of Lord Govinda with great longing."

etat shivasyastakam adbhutam mahat

shrinvan hari-prema labheta shighram

jjanam ca vijjanam apurva-vaibhavam

yo bhava-purnah paramam samadaram

"A person, filled with loving feelings, who hears with rapt attention this wonderful eight-fold prayer to Lord Shiva, can quickly gain Sri Hari-prema as well as transcendental knowledge, the realization of that knowledge, and unprecedented powers."

108 Names of Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva is known by several names. The Shiva Purana, one of the oldest Hindu religious texts dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, ...

Obeisances to the great God

Nagpanchami / Nagapanchami

Nagpanchami also known as Guga-Navami is a ceremony celebrated by the Hindus all over India. It falls on the fifth day of moonlit fortnight in Shravan (July/August). Snake worship was a ritual practice long before the Vedic times; by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists and still continues to be a pious celebration. There are quite a few mythological stories that cause the devotees to pray the serpent. Lord Shiva wears the snake as ornamentation around his neck. The ceremonies performed include sweetened milk and puffed rice offered to the snakes. People pray the Snake God for prosperity and safety from the venomous reptile. Goodies including sweets, fresh fruits and dry fruits along with flowers are gift hampers often exchanged among the devotees. In the corporate sector, this occasion is a good time to promote the corporation or a business by personalized Nagpanchami gifts.

Important Aspects of Nag Panchami

This so called "snake day" has several important components. In addition to offerings made to the snakes throughout the country during worship and celebration, men and women celebrate the day in these ways:

• Cobras are bathed in milk and offered rice as this is thought to offer immunity from their bites.

• Women often partake in early baths of milk and wear colourful saris.

• Pots of milk and flowers are placed next to holes that are believed to contain snakes as an offering of devotion. If a snake actually drinks the milk it is thought to be the ultimate sign of good luck.

• Mansa, the Queen of Snakes, is worshiped in most parts of Bengal during Nag Panchami.

• In the Punjabi region, a large dough snake is created and then paraded around the village. The parade is colourful with plenty of singing and dancing; at the end of the parade the snake is buried. Nag Panchami is referred to as "Guga-Navami" in Punjab.

• Snake charmers sit alongside the roads of Maharashtra and encourage women to offer milk, flowers and haldi-kumkum (a powdered offering of tumeric and vermillion) to the dangerous snakes the snake charmers carry.

• In many villages, snake charmers carry pots containing cobras to a central temple where they are released and then worshiped with offerings of milk and rice.

• Mainly in the south of India, people worship figures of snakes made of clay or sandalwood as alternatives to the real-life versions.

• No Hindu home may fry anything on the day of Nag Panchami.

• Girls who are hoping to marry believe that the cobra offers good luck in their quest for eternal happiness.

Nagpanchami / Nagapanchami

Panchami means the fifth and on the fifth day of the bright half of Shravana, nagas (serpents) are worshipped. Snakes symbolize energy and prosperity. Snake-worship is pre-Aryan and was incorporated into the Aryan religion at an early stage.

In the rainy month of Shravana many snakes come out of their holes. A large number of human and cattle deaths were caused by snake-bites. Thus, this worship must have been started to appease the nagas.

Nagas are descendents of the sage Kashyapa. He had two wives - Kadru and Vinita. Vinita was the mother of the great eagle Garuda and Kadru, the mother of serpents. There was great rivalry between the two wives. Kadru won a stake through deceit. Consequently, Vinita had to work as Kadru`s slave. One way to free her from bondage was to procure the `amrit` - the nectar of immortality from the city of Gods. Garuda, the mighty bird, procured the amrit and bought his mothers freedom. But, Indra stole it back before the serpents could drink it. However, a few drops of the divine potion fell on the grass on which the serpents slithered. Hence, they are endowed with the capacity to throw away the old skin and grow a new one in its place!

The prominent Cobra snakes mentioned in the Puranas are Anant, Vasuki, Shesh, Padma, Kanwal, Karkotak, Kalia, Aswatar, Takshak, Sankhpal, Dhritarashtra and Pingal. Some historians state that these were not snakes but Naga Kings of various regions with immense power.

Vishnu sleeps between the cycles of creation on a serpent-couch and this form is called Seshshayana Vishnu. This thousand-headed cobra is also called Ananta (endless). He is considered immortal by Hindus as it can slough off its skin. As such Eternity in Hinduism is often represented by a serpent eating its own tail.

In Jainism and Buddhism, snake is regarded as sacred having divine qualities. It is believed, that a Cobra snake saved the life of Buddha and another protected the Jain Muni Parshwanath. As an evidence of this belief, we find a huge serpent carved above the head of the statue of Muni Parshwanath.

In medieval India, figures of snakes were carved or painted on the walls of many Hindu temples. In the caves at Ajanta, images of the rituals of snake worship have been found. Kautilya, in his "Arthashastra" has given detailed description of the cobra snakes.

The most popular legend is about Lord Krishna when he was a small boy. While playing the game of throw-ball with his cowherd friends, the ball fell into Yamuna river. The legend explains how Krishna destroyed Kalia Serpent. He forced Kalia to go away and saved the people from drinking the poisonous water.

This is an ancient festival. Hemadri, an historian, has stated that on Ashvina Shukla Panchami people worshiped images of nagas and Indrani. These images were placed on a white cloth, on platform. The images of nagas were bathed with water, clarified butter and milk. The images of Indrani was washed with water only.

According to Agni Purana, snakes are to be worshiped on the Panchamis of Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashvina and Kartika. Such worship is performed in the honour of Takshaka, the king of serpents. The festival is called Takshaka Yatra.

NagapanchamiIt is celebrated with more enthusiasm in the rural areas. On this day, women and children visit snake-pits and worship the snakes residing there. They perform puja (a form worship with an invocative prayer). Then, they offer milk and honey to the naga-devta (snake-god). In urban areas, small clay images of cobra are worshipped.

Married girls visit their parents. Swings are put up in the villages on which both adults and children enjoy themselves without any inhibition, irrespective of caste, creed or sex. In several houses, clay images of snakes are worshipped.

On this day, people whitewash a portion of a wall. Then, the figures of cobras are painted in black. They worship these figures with incense, lamps, sweets, and flowers. Women observe a fast. Images of snakes made of silver, gold, wood or clay are also worshipped. Cloth effigies of serpents are worshipped in Jodhpur.

In Punjab, Nag-Panchami is known by the name of "Guga-Navami". A huge snake is made from dough. Every household contributes the flour and butter needed to prepare the dough-snake. The dough-snake is then placed on a winnowing basket and taken in a procession in which women and children sing and dance and onlookers shower flowers. All the religious rites are performed to invoke the blessings of the snake-god and then the dough snake is ceremoniously buried.

The body of Shiva is entwined with snakes, thus, on Naga Panchami day, people worship him. Shiva worship is observed particularly at his temples at Varanasi and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and at Vaidyanatha and Naganatha in West Bengal.

Manasa, a daughter of Shiva, is worshipped as the snake-goddess. She is worshipped particularly in Rajasthan, Bengal and the hill areas of India. On this occasion, snake-charmers are also requested to invoke the Snake Queen by playing melodious tunes on their flutes.

In Maharashtra, snake-charmers are seen especially on this day. They go from house to house asking for alms and clothing. The snakes are kept in flat and round baskets. These baskets are opened only when women offer milk and cooked rice for the worship. Women sprinkle haldi-kumkum and flowers on the heads of the snakes and offer sweetened milk to the snakes and pray.

NagapanchamiThe village of Baltis Shirale, which is situated approximately 400 kilometers (approximately 250 miles) from Mumbai, witnesses the most impressive of all the Nagapanchami celebrations. In this village, people pray to live cobras that they catch on the eve of this pre-harvest festival. About a week before this festival, they dig out live snakes from holes and keep them in covered earthen pots and these snakes are fed with rats and milk. Their poison-containing fangs are not removed because the people of this village believe that to hurt the snakes is sacrilegious. Yet it is amazing that these venomous cobras do not bite instead protect their prospective worshippers.

After all the obeisance is rendered to the goddess and the ritual puja is over, the snakes are put back in the pots and carried in bullock-carts in procession through the 32 hamlets of Shirala village. Women eagerly await outside their houses for "darshan" of the sacred cobras. One or two cobras are let loose in front of each house where men and women offer prayers, sprinkle puffed rice, flowers and coins over them, burn camphor and agarbattis and perform "aarti".

Large crowds arrive from Kolhapur, Sangli, Poona and even from foreign lands to see this wonderful spectacle and enjoy in the fair. The following day, the snakes are released in the jungle.

There is one legend associated with the celebration of this festival. Once Guru Gorakhnath was passing through this village. He saw a woman praying before a clay-cobra idol. He turned it into a living snake and told her not to be afraid of snakes. Since then, the Baltis Shirale village and its neighbouring regions worship snakes. Guru Gorakhnath`s temple is on a nearby hillock.

In Maharashtra, acrobatics and the magic performances by the tribals in the interior parts attracts big crowds.

Some of the other areas of worship during Nagapanchami are the Hardevja temple in Jaipur, Adishesha temple in Andhra Pradesh, Nagaraj temple in Kerala and Nagathamman temple in Chennai.

In the South, images of Snakes are crafted in cowdung on either side of the entrance to the house as a mark of welcome to snake God. Offerings of milk are given in the holes around the house.

There are snake-temples in our country with idols of snake-gods. In these, temples cobras are also reared and live snakes are worshipped on Nag-Panchami day. In Hindu homes, frying any thing on this day is forbidden by tradition.