नवनाग पूजा विधि — नागपंचमी Nav Naag Puja Vidhi — Nagpanchami

नवनाग पूजा विधि — नागपंचमी

Nav Naag Puja Vidhi — Nagpanchami

१. पूजा सामग्री | Puja Samagri (Materials Required)

नागांची मूर्ती/चित्र किंवा चांदीचे/मातीचे नाग (Idols/pictures or silver/clay Naga figures)

हळद, कुंकू, अक्षता (Turmeric, kumkum, unbroken rice)

दूध, दही, तूप, मध, साखर (पंचामृतासाठी) — Milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar (for Panchamrit)

फुले, दुर्वा, बेलपत्र (Flowers, durva grass, bel leaves)

धूप, दीप, कापूर (Incense, lamp, camphor)

नैवेद्य — लाह्या, लाडू, खीर (Naivedya — puffed rice, laddu, kheer)

कलश, पाणी, आंब्याची पाने, नारळ (Kalash, water, mango leaves, coconut)

जानवे, वस्त्र (Sacred thread, cloth)

२. संकल्प | Sankalpa

Sanskrit: ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः, श्रीमद्भगवतो महापुरुषस्य विष्णोराज्ञया प्रवर्तमानस्य अद्य ब्रह्मणो द्वितीयपरार्धे श्वेतवाराहकल्पे वैवस्वतमन्वन्तरे कलियुगे प्रथमचरणे... अमुकनामाहं (आपले नाव) अमुकगोत्रः श्रावणमासे शुक्लपक्षे पंचम्यां तिथौ, नागदेवतायाः प्रीत्यर्थं नवनागपूजनं करिष्ये।

English Translation: "Om, invoking Vishnu, Vishnu, Vishnu — under the sanction of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, on this day in the current cycle of creation, in the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of the month of Shravan, on the fifth tithi (Panchami) — I, (your name), of (your) gotra, undertake the worship of the Nine Serpent Deities (Nav Naga) for their divine grace and protection."

(Take water, flowers, and akshata in the right palm while reciting; release the water into a plate after completion.)

३. गणपती वंदन | Ganapati Vandana

Sanskrit: वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥

English Translation: "O Lord with the curved trunk, of mighty form, radiant as a crore suns — O Deva, make my endeavours free of obstacles, always, in every task."

४. कलश स्थापना | Kalash Sthapana

Place a copper/brass kalash filled with water, topped with mango leaves and a coconut, on a small heap of rice. Invoke all sacred rivers and deities into the kalash.

Sanskrit: गंगे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति। नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु॥

English Translation: "O Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri — be present in this water."

५. नागावाहन | Naga Avahan (Invocation of the Nine Nagas)

Invoke each of the nine serpent deities by name, offering flowers and akshata with each:

Sanskrit: अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम्। शङ्खपालं धृतराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा॥ एतानि नव नामानि नागानां च महात्मनाम्। सायंकाले पठेन्नित्यं प्रातःकाले विशेषतः॥ तस्मै नागाय नमः, इहागच्छ इह तिष्ठ।

English Translation: "Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya — these are the nine names of the great serpent deities. One who recites them daily in the evening, and especially at dawn, is blessed. Salutations to that Naga — come here, and remain here."

(Invite each deity by name individually: "ॐ अनन्ताय नमः आवाहयामि" — "Om, salutations to Ananta, I invoke you" — and repeat for each of the nine names.)

६. पंचामृत स्नान | Panchamrit Snan (Ritual Bath)

Bathe the Naga idol/image with, in sequence: milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar-water, followed by plain water.

Sanskrit (for each substance, e.g. milk): पयः पृथिव्यां पयः ओषधीषु पयो दिव्यन्तरिक्षे पयो धाः। पयस्वतीः प्रदिशः सन्तु मह्यम्॥

English Translation: "Milk is in the earth, milk is in the herbs, milk is in the divine atmosphere — may all directions be filled with abundance for me."

७. षोडशोपचार पूजा | Shodashopachara Puja (Sixteen-Step Worship)

Offer each item while reciting the corresponding mantra, ending each with "नमः" (salutations):

आवाहन (Invocation) — ॐ नागदेवाय नमः, आवाहयामि।

आसन (Seat) — आसनं समर्पयामि।

पाद्य (Water for feet) — पाद्यं समर्पयामि।

अर्घ्य (Water offering) — अर्घ्यं समर्पयामि।

आचमन (Sipping water) — आचमनीयं समर्पयामि।

स्नान (Bath) — स्नानं समर्पयामि।

वस्त्र (Cloth) — वस्त्रं समर्पयामि।

यज्ञोपवीत (Sacred thread) — यज्ञोपवीतं समर्पयामि।

गंध (Sandalwood paste) — गंधं समर्पयामि।

पुष्प (Flowers) — पुष्पं समर्पयामि।

धूप (Incense) — धूपं आघ्रापयामि।

दीप (Lamp) — दीपं दर्शयामि।

नैवेद्य (Food offering) — नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि।

ताम्बूल (Betel leaf/nut) — ताम्बूलं समर्पयामि।

दक्षिणा (Offering/donation) — दक्षिणां समर्पयामि।

आरती/नमस्कार (Aarti and prostration) — मंत्रपुष्पांजलिं समर्पयामि, नमस्कारान् समर्पयामि।

English Translation (summary): "I offer invocation, a seat, water for the feet, water offering, sipping water, ritual bath, cloth, sacred thread, sandal paste, flowers, incense, the lamp, food offering, betel leaf, donation, and finally the closing prayer with prostrations."

८. नवनाग स्तोत्र | Nav Naga Stotra (Hymn to the Nine Nagas)

Sanskrit: अनन्तं शिरसा वन्दे वासुकिं कण्ठदेशगम्। शेषं तु ह्रदये वन्दे पद्मनाभं च नाभिगम्॥ कम्बलं तु उदरे वन्दे शङ्खपालं तु कट्यगम्। धृतराष्ट्रं तु उरुगं तक्षकं जानुगं तथा॥ कालियं पादयोर्वन्दे एतन्नागाष्टकं पठेत्। सायंकाले प्रातःकाले सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये॥

English Translation: "I bow to Ananta upon the head, to Vasuki at the throat, I bow to Shesha in the heart, and to Padmanabha at the navel. I bow to Kambala at the belly, to Shankhapala at the waist, to Dhritarashtra at the thighs, and to Takshaka at the knees. I bow to Kaliya at the feet. One who recites this octad of Nagas, morning and evening, attains fulfilment of all desires and prosperity."

(This stotra symbolically places each Naga at a part of the body, a traditional protective visualization.)

९. नाग गायत्री मंत्र | Naga Gayatri Mantra

Sanskrit: ॐ नागराजाय विद्महे विषदन्ताय धीमहि। तन्नो सर्पः प्रचोदयात्॥

English Translation: "Om, let us know the King of Serpents, let us meditate upon the one with venom-bearing fangs. May that Serpent deity illuminate and guide our understanding."

(Recite this 9, 21, or 108 times using a rudraksha or tulsi mala.)

१०. आरती | Aarti

Sanskrit: जय जय नागराजा, जय जय शेषशायी। भक्तजनांच्या रक्षणा, धावुनि येसी लवलाही॥ (पारंपरिक नागदेव आरती स्थानिक भाषेत म्हणावी)

English Translation: "Victory, victory to the King of Serpents, victory to the one who reclines upon Shesha. You swiftly come to protect your devotees." (The traditional Naga aarti is typically sung in the local/regional language, following this Sanskrit invocation.)

Wave the lit lamp (arati) in a clockwise circle before the deity/idol, accompanied by bell and conch, if available.

११. नैवेद्य आणि प्रसाद | Naivedya and Prasad

Offer lahya (puffed rice/lava), til laddu, and kheer as naivedya. On Nagpanchami it is traditional NOT to fry food in oil or cut vegetables with a knife on this day, out of respect for the serpent deities — cooking is typically done a day in advance.

Sanskrit (offering mantra): ॐ नागदेवाय नमः, नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि।

English Translation: "Om, salutations to the Serpent Deity, I offer this food."

१२. क्षमा प्रार्थना आणि विसर्जन | Kshama Prarthana and Visarjan

Sanskrit: मंत्रहीनं क्रियाहीनं भक्तिहीनं जनार्दन। यत्पूजितं मया देव परिपूर्णं तदस्तु मे॥ अनेन नवनागपूजनेन भगवान् नागराजः प्रीयताम्।

English Translation: "O Lord, whatever in this worship was lacking in mantra, in ritual action, or in devotion — may it still be accepted by You as complete. May the Lord, King of Serpents, be pleased through this worship of the Nine Nagas."

Finally, offer a formal prostration (namaskar), circumambulate (pradakshina) if a physical idol is used, and distribute prasad to family members and devotees.

This vidhi may be conducted at home by the family, or performed with a purohit officiating for the full Vedic recitation and Sankalpa. For serpent-shrine (Naga Panchami mandir/vali) worship, live snake handling is discouraged; traditional silver, stone, or clay Naga idols are used for puja in accordance with modern practice.

— Vedmata Gayatri Jyotish Aani Dharmik Kendra | PanditjiPune International —