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Nag Panchami

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The annual 5th lunar day of the serpents

Nag Panchami falls on the 5th lunar day of the bright half of the moon in the Vedic month of Sravana.  This year it occurs Friday August 9th worldwide.

The serpent energy holds a strong position in Indian mythology.  There are essentially 2 types of serpent energy- Nagas and Sarpas.  Nagas are considered semi-divine entities who are often part human and serpent.  They can have strong energetic powers and use their energy for a divine higher purpose.  Some common symbology of Nagas include the Kundalini energy, the snake depicted in images of Shiva, or the serpent hood that protects Vishnu.

Sarpas, on the other hand, are the lower serpent energy that give more disturbances. In Vedic Astrology, this sarpa energy is represented by Rahu and Ketu, also called the nodes.  They are not actual planets but rather shadows of the luminaries, the Sun and the Moon.  In astrology, both Rahu and Ketu are considered malefic planets, which means they can deliver difficulties and confusion. When these shadow planets are too strong in one’s birth chart the native can experience shocking and often dramatic events, sudden loss, and excessive fear and anxiety.  There are various astrological problems in the chart that reflect over active nodal energy that can be remediated through mantra and puja. Also, if one is in a time period of either Rahu or Ketu, or have the nodes transiting important placements in your chart, these challenges can be more strongly felt.

For this reason, Nag Panchami is an important day to propitiate the serpent energy in some form.  There are various rituals and pujas that are done, and if you can find one in your locality that is ideal.  For a general practitioner, worship of Shiva in some form, whether through mantra or abhisheka, is the indicated action.  Shiva is the one who can tame the unruly sarpa energy and turn them into Nagas, the divine protectors.

Another beneficial remedial action would be to make a donation to an environmental cause (Rahu) or a spiritual organization (Ketu) on this day.

Om Namah Shivaya!

Love and Blessings,

Mrinmoyee

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Mrinmoyee Prajna

Mrinmoyee is in a long term love affair with Mother India, the land of her spiritual birth. She has lived primarily in India for the last 2 decades, and while she appreciates most all aspects of the culture, Vedic Astrology, Meditation, and Devotional pactices have been her primary focus.

Having grown up on the East coast of the United States, she deeply sees the need for the Vedic sciences in the modern Western life. She lived for 10 years in an Indian Buddhist spiritual community in North India where meditation and seva (service) were the foundations of her practice. Here she experienced the traditional teachings passed down through a lineage that is customary in India. As her interest in Vedic Astrology grew it took her to different regions and teachers of India and the US. She has studied Vedic Astrology for the last 10 years, and has given hundreds of readings to people all over the world in the last 5 years.

She offers introductory workshops on Vedic Astrology, and retreats in India. But the main focus of her work is personalized birth chart consultations. She has studied with both traditional and modern teachers, and gives a traditional analysis of the chart combined with a modern, applicable interpretation. While Vedic Astrology is Hindu in its origins, a person need not be following that path to benefit from her readings. Advice on career, relationships, finances, ideal living locations, and spirituality are just some of the areas of life that can be covered in a session.