NAGAPANCHAMI

 Nepalese people have great respect for Naga Panchami Day which falls every year on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shrawan (July). They celebrate this day with great feelings and faith. On this particular day, the serpent worship begins with the posting of colorful portraits of nagas (serpents)on top of the main doors of households. 

Naga Panchami has a very ancient origin. The tradition of serpent worship seems to have originated from the Dravidian culture. The Aryans, however, did not worship the snakes in the early days whereas the Dravidians had always felt themselves very close to them. The Vedas have very little to say in praise of serpent gods. But, it is fascinating enough to note that in due course of time the Puranas started speaking very highly of the significance of the serpent worship. And thus the tradition of serpent worship came to be recognized as an integral part of the Vedic religion in later years.

Nepalese people believe that snakes use to roam around in disguised forms of various gods or goddesses. This is the reason why Nepalese people are used to worshiping nagas. The Garuda Purana says that the worshipping of the nagas on the Nagapanchami day brings peace and prosperity to the worshippers. The Skanda Purana also speaks almost in the same tone. The Narad Purana says that if one offers the cow’s milk to the snakes on this day he is sure to be safe from snakebites for the whole year. In any case, Nagapanchami Day reminds us all that the snakes by nature are poisonous and dangerous yet they are very useful, nice, and respectable. 

NAGARJUNA - Nagarjun is usually called the “Founder” of the Mahayan system. Some claimed that he was only its principal expounder. Some look upon Asvaghosha, the probable master of Nagarjuna as the founder of Mahayan doctrine. Others still believe that nagarjun founded the madhyamika school and was the first to teach the Amitabha doctrine.

Nagarjuna was born in Southern India around the end of the second century A. D. His parents were of the Brahman caste. At his birth, it was predicted that he would only live seven days. Considering the acts of merit performed by his parent, god delayed his death until seven years. Before the seven years were up, he was sent to Nalnada where he learned to adore Amiayus, the god of long life, and succeeded to propitiate the god and lived three hundred years on earth.

Nagarjuna was the greatest Buddhist philosopher who mastered all the sciences, and especially magic Art. He is said to have acquired Siddhi and the magic power by which he obtained the Rainbow body’ and was thus able to become invisible at will and transport himself from one place to another by a supernatural power. Different  Buddhist schools of thought claim Nagarjuna as of very high ranked disciple of the Buddha.

According to Buddhist tests, Sakyamuni predicated the rebirth of his disciple Anada under the name of Nagarjuna, founder of the Mahayana system.