I was witness and a participant to one of the finest Poojas (Ashlesha Bali) conducted by a priest recently and that too not in India but in USA. Kudos to the chief priest Jnanamoorthiji of Krishna Temple in LA. This Pooja is named after a Nakshatra (or star) called Ashlesha which belongs to one of the 27 Nakshatras of Indian Jyotish or Zodiac system. So this is a "Bali" or a sacrifice to the presiding deity of this Nakshatra which is but the Naga or the chieftain of Snakes. One of the most misunderstood element in our metaphysical systems of Sanatana Dharma is this concept of snake and also its poison overall. The whole Sanatana Dharma has both outward and inward concepts of representation. Snakes too belong to this category. Firstly Naga Panchami occurs in the month of "Shravana" which according to our seasons corresponds to the rainy season. Now also in rural households in India, one can find maximum instances of snake spotting during this season, their ant hills and habitats usually get washed away and are mostly out and open during this season. India being an agrarian economy from time immemorial appreciated the whole concept of food chain and also the concept of co existence more than anybody else. Snakes are and were farmers best friends. While the west took the concept of ecological co existence pretty late, the traditional Indian system had long adopted this concept in letter and spirit. Thats why every animal is a "vahana" or a vehicle of a deity and is revered upon to make sure that we place and regard their importance in our environment. Similarly when snakes were out and open in rainy season the whole concept of worshiping them at least once a year gathered upon. Also in the Ayurveda system , this is a time when all the three Doshas or humor (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) is imbalanced in the body and one way of settling the same is to invoke the blessings of the deity which will help us to reestablish the balance. In the advanced spiritual practice, there is a concept of Kundalini which many cultures address it with different names, but we know its symbolic representation as an serpent coiled in our spine linking all the energy centers from Muladhara to Saharsadhara or the ones at base of the spine to the crown of the head. Any worship that is externally manifested has also an internal significance in our systems. So the the outward worship of Nagas is also a meditative worship to our Kundalini which is struck with many blockages and we request the almighty's help to remove the blockages which in turn helps us to balance the Doshas internally. Similar to a pipe being blocked the Kundalini is usually blocked disrupting the flow of Prana or energy in the spine center creating all sorts of physical and psychosomatic problems. Then comes to the most important question of Doshas which are associated with Nagas or Sarpas, why do they occur in one'e life and how is snake associated with them.
The most important element of snake is its poison and this too is paradoxical, if one contemplates deep within the most poisonous substances provide the most medicative cures in our lives. Mercury is as much as a poison as much as its an elixir. Radiation (nuclear) is as much as a killer as much as its a radioactive cancer killer. Inwardly our own tendencies of hate, greed, negative tendencies which exist deep within and do not appear in a day to day life plays the role of a poison creating the Karmic Doshas within ourselves. The play of Karma is best reflected and observed in the pitch of a Jyotish landscape where these Doshas have been defined. Newtonian law is as much prevalent in the metaphysical world as much as its in the outward world. The "Sarpa Dosha" is our Karmic Debt or Rnuna that we have chosen by sowing seeds of poison in whatever form (that we have sown against others ) which are now fructified and we need to bear their consequences. So this concept of repentance and an effort to remove our negative mindsets and tendencies is also reaffirmed through this worship.
Lastly, Snakes are scared and worshiped as compared to any other animals. two most important chief deities either sleep on them (Vishnu ) or wear it as a necklace (Shiva).
The most important element of snake is its poison and this too is paradoxical, if one contemplates deep within the most poisonous substances provide the most medicative cures in our lives. Mercury is as much as a poison as much as its an elixir. Radiation (nuclear) is as much as a killer as much as its a radioactive cancer killer. Inwardly our own tendencies of hate, greed, negative tendencies which exist deep within and do not appear in a day to day life plays the role of a poison creating the Karmic Doshas within ourselves. The play of Karma is best reflected and observed in the pitch of a Jyotish landscape where these Doshas have been defined. Newtonian law is as much prevalent in the metaphysical world as much as its in the outward world. The "Sarpa Dosha" is our Karmic Debt or Rnuna that we have chosen by sowing seeds of poison in whatever form (that we have sown against others ) which are now fructified and we need to bear their consequences. So this concept of repentance and an effort to remove our negative mindsets and tendencies is also reaffirmed through this worship.
Lastly, Snakes are scared and worshiped as compared to any other animals. two most important chief deities either sleep on them (Vishnu ) or wear it as a necklace (Shiva).
