Home > Society > Religion in India > Naga pratishta
Naga pratishta
Naga pratishta means installation of snake images, which is an important occasion.

Share this Article:

Naga pratishta, Indian customThere is a peculiar custom among the Hindus and this can be named as Naga Pratishta. It consists in the establishment of Naga or snake images made out of stone under the spreading branches of Asvatta tree on the banks of the village tank. They established it with the enjoined religious rites and ceremonies. Generally barren women observe this custom of Naga-Pratishta and circumambulate the sacred Asvatta tree to shake off their sterile curse and be blessed with offsprings. At least in many of the cases it is Strange to see that people who observe this custom are successful in getting their wishes gratified. Else this custom could not have withstood the onslaught of the materialistic waves of centuries.

In most of the cases women of soft constitution are liable to be barren. Indian women do not have the benefit of outdoor exercises except when they go round on annual tours of pilgrimage. So some sort of exercise is of absolute necessity for them to shake off their barrenness. Generally women belonging to the working classes have many children born to them whereas those belonging to the richer classes are barren and if at all they bring forth issues, they are few and not enough strong as compared to the children of the working classes.

The wise preceptors of the rich people in bygone days wanted to give the rich ladies some sort of exercise coupled with a mental attitude favourable for child-bearing. Religious belief was pressed into service. The ancient Aryans worshipped nature by worshipping certain animals having special characteristics of the elements. They desired to worship and as the serpent happened to symbolize wisdom and the one commonly considered sacred and hence greatly venerated. It was selected as the fittest object to inspire veneration in women. As the living serpent was not a safe object to be kept near, stone image of one took its place. According to the scientists, the mental attitude is an essential thing for a woman to conceive and give birth to a healthy child. The serpent, symbolical of the highest form of wisdom, should create a wise mental attitude in the mind of the woman to give birth to a worthy issue.

There is one specific reason why it was located under a tree and that too the sacred Asvatta tree. And the reason can be stated as it is a tree that is royal in appearance to inspire veneration in human beings and further it affords a pleasant shade because of its spreading foliage on the cool banks of the village tank or river. From a medical point of view, the Hindu physicians considered the sacred tree Asvatta to possess miraculous virtues and medicinal properties. They believe that if consequently any male or female remained in its vicinity he or she would surely be the better for it.

The reason why the image was not placed inside the house and worshipped is mainly because of the fear that `Familiarity May Breed Contempt.` The second reason is that the open air on the banks of tanks and rivers is more favourable to recoup health and vitality. Whereas the confined atmosphere of a house would only make them more sickly if they took exercise of the nature intended by the then wise that they should take.

The reason why barren ladies generally throw off their barrenness and become enceinte is that they take a good exercise in the exhilarating early hours of the morning. They usually dwell upon the one thought that she should conceive and bring forth a child. These are the necessary things, namely, a healthy body that is furnished by the circum-ambulation of the Naga image or images under the sacred tree and also a mind congenial and favourable to become enceinte. After all perhaps there is no miracle performed here but only favourable conditions created by nature to affect its purpose.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Religion in India


Religion in Indus Valley Civilization
Religion in Indus Valley Civilisation included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Details about the religion in Indus Valley Civilization have been gathered from archaeological artefacts.
Shaivism Religion
Shaivism is the second largest “religious community” in modern India with its roots deeply seated in the Hindu Vedic belief.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is among the more popular denominations of Hinduism, with its own distinctive ideas about spirituality and morality. Vaishnavism concentrates on worshipping god Vishnu and of his incarnations.
Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is more of a philosophy which is a way of living according to the understanding of the principles of Vedas and Upanishads.
Islam
Islam is a religion that beliefs in Allah as the one and only God and creator of the Universe. Islamic law or Sharia is characterised by the five pillars of Islam which comprise the essential duties of every Muslim.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and it is the largest religion in the world.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy that encompasses a wide variety of beliefs, practices and traditions that are chiefly based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and its later disciples.
Jainism
Jainism chronologically preceded the religion of Buddhism. It is considered as one of the oldest religions of India. Jainism in India shared with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice, but it is not a Hindu sect and not a Buddhist heresy, as earlier scholars believed.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam was founded by Zoroaster.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion started by Guru Nanak in land of Punjab in 15th century A.D.