Can You Feed Milk To Snakes On Nag Panchami? Experts Bust Myths

The tradition of feeding milk to snakes on Nag Panchami has been around in India since ancient times. This practice is very popular, especially in rural areas. Should one feed milk to snakes? There is a lot of confusion among the public on this issue. Some say that this is just animal cruelty, others say it is a matter of religious belief. A famous astrologer and snake expert has shared important information on this issue. On the day of Nag Panchami, snakes are worshipped and there is a tradition of feeding them milk. This tradition is done to please the snake god. According to Khargone’s snake expert Mahadev Patel, milk is not the natural food of snakes. They mainly feed on rats, frogs and other small creatures. Milk is not suitable for their digestive system and can harm them.

Snakes should not be fed milk, they should be offered milk. Noted astrologer Pandit Pankaj Mehta says, “The tradition of Nag Panchami has a religious significance. In the Puranas, it is said that one worships the snake god and offers him milk. But it is symbolic. Its purpose should be to understand the real needs of the snakes and respect them. Just as we perform the Dudhbhishek of Lord Bholenath, the snakes should also be anointed with milk on Nag Panchami. The purpose of the milk offering is to show respect to the snake.”

History of Nag Panchami

According to Mahabharata, King Janmejaya had organised a Nag Yagya where a vow was taken to destroy all the snakes. Through the efforts of Astik Muni, this Yagya was stopped and the tradition of Nag Panchami began.

Shiva and Vasuki Naag:

According to another legend, Lord Shiva was carrying Vasuki Naag around his neck. For this reason, he is worshipped on Nag Panchami.

Another story supporting the practice of feeding milk to the snakes dates back to Samudra-Manthan. In search of Amrit (a boon of immortality) by the Devas and Asuras, a deadly poison Kalakatoom burst forth from the ocean which had the power to wipe out the entire creation. To save the creation, Lord Shiva drank the poison and some droplets fell on the earth which were consumed by his helpers, the snakes. To mitigate the effects of the deadly poison, the Devtas performed Ganga Abhishek on Neelkantha (the blue-necked man) and the snakes. So, Nag Panchami is the symbolic representation of the entire mythological process.