Everything is Rudra
May we offer our reverence to Rudra
The Purusha is Rudra; to that great being we offer our reverence!
To the entire manifold and lustrous universe that has been, is and will be, everything is Rudra. To that Rudra may we offer our surrender.
Mahanarayana Upanishad 28.
The Serpent carries the ‘Lightning Shakti’ of the earth and the atmosphere and must be revered.
Naga Panchami is the traditional reverence and worship of serpents observed by Hindus and many ancient traditions. The worship is offered on the fifth day of the waxing Moon phase (Shukla Paksh) in the month of Sawan or Shravana bright (mid July/mid August), according to the Hindu calendar. It is an auspicious day for devotees to worship snakes or serpents and Naga Devatas (serpent Devata) for receiving various blessings in life.
There are many sacred and mystical types of serpents in Vedic thought, representing the three worlds of the Earth, the Atmosphere and Heaven. Most commonly serpents as powers of lightning which carry the Vidyut Shakti related to the Atmosphere. Higher types of serpents or Nagas are known for their wisdom and mystical powers.
Vishnu’s serpent Ananta upholds the entire universe as the unlimited power and potential for creation. He gives us the power of asana or steady posture. Shiva wears his serpent Vasuki around his neck, symbolizing his power of speech and mantra.
Kundalini Shakti and the Serpent Energy
The sacred Kundalini encompasses all three types of serpents. Her dwelling in her dormant state is in the Earth (Muladhara). Yet she has the power to rise through the atmosphere as Prana and ascend to Heaven in the lotus of the head.
Ultimately, Kundalini is a serpent or electrical energy of space, specifically the space of higher consciousness, which is the highest form of serpent energy. The liberation of the individual soul implies the liberation of its energy or creative power as the Kundalini to move anywhere and pervade the entire universe.
The serpent symbolizes transformation, transition and deep inner healing, through wisdom and magical potions. When a serpent appears it awakens one’s mystical creative forces, honing the intuitive powers of the individual. We must allow with deep reverence the serpents to exist in their natural habitat if we want their blessings.
The serpent energy guides one into the realms of cosmic consciousness. The serpent allows one to transmute the energy of all the three worlds of the Earth, the Atmosphere and Heaven.
Sacred rituals, offerings, milk, flowers, mantra and prayers are made to the Serpent who carries the lightning shakti of the earth and the atmosphere.
Jyotir Bhava Shakti Mantras for the Nine Planets
Nava Naga Stuti – Chant to the Nine Nagas
‘Anantam vasukim shesham padmanabhancha kambalam
Shankhapalam dhritarashtram taksham kaliyam tatha
Etani navanamani naganamcha mahatmana
Sayankale pathenityam prathakale visheshata
Tasya vishabhayam nasti sarvatra vijayi bhavet’
Naga Mula Mantra – Root Mantra of the Serpents
Ōṁ namō bhagavatē kāma rūpiṇē mahā bālāya
nāgādhipatayē svāhā
