The worship of Nagas (serpentine deities) is an ancient and revered practice in Hinduism. Naga worship is generally performed to seek protection, prosperity, fertility, and blessings for the family. The most common occasions for Naga Puja include Naga Panchami, Shashti, and other auspicious days dedicated to serpentine deities. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to perform Naga Puja at home, including cleanliness, attire, puja items, eco-friendly products, mantras, and more.
1. Cleanliness and Preparation
- Clean the house and puja space: Begin by thoroughly cleaning the space where you intend to perform the puja. Cleanliness is crucial in Hindu worship as it is believed that deities only bless those who maintain purity in their environment.
- Take a bath: All family members participating in the puja should take a bath to purify themselves before starting the ritual. Wearing fresh, clean clothes is important.
- Select a peaceful spot: Choose a clean and peaceful area to conduct the puja, ideally in a temple room or a corner of the house facing east or north. If you have a Naga idol or a Naga picture, place it on a clean cloth.
2. What to Wear
- White or Yellow clothes: These colors symbolize purity and spirituality in Hinduism. It is recommended to wear white, yellow, or light-colored traditional clothes. Avoid wearing black or dark colors, as they are generally considered inauspicious during religious rituals.
- Cotton attire: Wearing cotton or natural fabrics reflects simplicity and purity. It is also eco-friendly.
3. Puja Items Required (Eco-friendly)
All items should be natural and eco-friendly, avoiding any non-biodegradable materials.
- Naga idol or picture – A stone or eco-friendly clay idol of a serpent deity, or a printed or hand-drawn image.
- Kalash (sacred pot) – Filled with clean water and topped with a coconut wrapped in mango or betel leaves.
- Turmeric powder – Symbolizing prosperity.
- Kumkum (red vermillion) – For offering tilak to the deities.
- Sandalwood paste – Represents purity and is used for anointing.
- Flowers – Jasmine, marigold, and hibiscus are considered auspicious (use fresh, organic, and unsprayed flowers).
- Fruits – Bananas, coconuts, and other seasonal fruits (organic).
- Incense sticks and camphor – Preferably made from natural resins like sandalwood.
- Ghee lamps (Diyas) – Clay diyas filled with cow ghee (clarified butter) or organic oils.
- Rice grains – Washed and dried, used in offerings.
- Paan (betel) leaves and Areca nuts – Considered sacred in Naga worship.
- Milk, honey, curd, ghee, and sugar (Panchamrit) – Used for abhishekam (anointing the deity).
- Durva grass (blades of grass), bilva (bel) leaves, and tulsi leaves (sacred leaves for offering).
4. Simple Steps to Perform Naga Puja
Step 1: Establish the Deity
- Place the Naga idol or picture on a clean platform with a white cloth.
- Light a ghee lamp (Diya) and incense sticks to purify the environment.
Step 2: Invoke the Deities
- Place the Kalash (water pot) and invoke Lord Ganesha first with the mantra "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" to remove all obstacles.
- Sprinkle water around the puja space for purification and invite Naga Devata to bless your home.
Step 3: Offering Panchamrit Abhishekam
- Perform abhishekam (ritual bath) to the Naga idol or image by pouring milk, honey, curd, ghee, and sugar, one after the other. Chant the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" or "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" during the process.
Step 4: Decorate with Flowers and Sandalwood
- Apply sandalwood paste and kumkum on the Naga idol.
- Offer flowers, durva grass, bilva leaves, and tulsi leaves as you chant the Naga Mantras.
Step 5: Offer Prasad
- Place fruits, coconuts, and sweets as Prasad in front of the deity.
- Naivedyam (food offering): Prepare a simple eco-friendly sweet dish like Payasam (kheer), made from rice, milk, and jaggery, or modaks.
- Offer them with devotion, chanting "Naga Gayatri Mantra":
Om Naagaya Vidmahe Vishadantaaya Dheemahi Tanno Sarpah Prachodayat
Step 6: Aarti
- Light camphor and perform the Aarti while singing the Naga Aarti or chanting the Naga Stotra:
Anantam Vasukim Sesham Padmanabham Cha Kambalam Shankhapalam Dhritarashtram Takshakam Kaliyam Tatha
5. Prasad to be Prepared
- Payasam (kheer): A traditional sweet made with rice, milk, and jaggery.
- Modak: Small steamed dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery.
- Fruits: Seasonal organic fruits like bananas, pomegranates, and coconuts.
6. Mantras for Naga Worship
- Naga Gayatri Mantra:
Om Naagaya Vidmahe Vishadantaaya Dheemahi Tanno Sarpah Prachodayat - Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (for protection):
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat - Naga Stotra: (Praising the various forms of Naga deities).
7. How to Conclude the Puja
- Once the puja is completed, perform a final Aarti using a camphor flame and offer gratitude to the Naga deity.
- Distribute the Prasad (sweet offering) to all family members and neighbors as a form of blessing.
- Sprinkle the water from the Kalash in all corners of the house to purify the environment and bring prosperity.
8. What to Do with the Leftover Puja Items (Eco-friendly Disposal)
- Flowers and leaves: Collect the flowers, leaves, and other biodegradable items, and either place them under a sacred tree, in a garden, or compost them.
- Milk, Panchamrit, and water: The leftover abhishekam liquids can be poured at the base of a Tulsi or Peepal tree.
- Coconuts and fruits: Offer them to cows or use them in cooking.
- Diyas and incense ashes: These can be scattered in the garden soil or collected and composted.
9. Importance and Benefits of Naga Worship
- Protection from Negative Energies: Naga worship is believed to provide protection from evil forces, health issues, and accidents.
- Fertility and Prosperity: Naga deities are considered to bless couples with children and bring abundance to the household.
- Spiritual Growth: It promotes inner peace, spiritual progress, and mental clarity.
- Remedies for Naga Dosha: People with astrological afflictions related to Nagas (like Sarpa Dosha or Kala Sarpa Dosha) perform this worship to mitigate negative impacts.
10. Eco-friendly Focus
By using eco-friendly materials such as natural flowers, clay diyas, biodegradable offerings, and avoiding plastic or artificial items, you honor both the deities and nature, aligning the ritual with the principles of ahimsa (non-harm) and respect for the environment.
Naga worship is a meaningful practice rooted in devotion and reverence for nature. By conducting this puja with eco-friendly products, pure intentions, and adherence to tradition, one can seek the blessings of Naga Devatas for protection, prosperity, and spiritual growth.