ANANTA literally means endless or infinity in Sanskrit language. It is
also the name of Sheshnaga “The Celestial serpent on which Narayana
reclines”. Naga worshipping was wide-spread in Sumerian culture,
Greek culture, Maya civilization, Native American and all the
indigenous culture of the world. It is the ultimate Truth- the visible
form of Almighty Creator! The modern scientists admitted the reality
(the vastness of universe) and started to express the same thing with
‘infinity sign’ when they found our universe bigger to infinity and
atoms smaller to infinity.
First of all, we need to understand that ‘Nagas’ are mythical serpent
beings worshipped with due respect since Vedic period because Nagas
are the protector of Devas, Rishimuni, enlightened figures, human
beings and whole living creatures. People have deep faith in Nagas and
the only creature they have fear is Nagas; so that people do not dare
to pollute streams or jungle area. In many myths and legends, Nagas
are able to change themselves into an entirely human appearance.
Indeed, it is the visible form of Sat Guru Gorakshnath which can be
seen around the neck of Lord Shiva as a counselor / protector. Yes,
Nagas are the protective white colored serpents in cosmic energy as
well as the only creature that can live on earth, water and sky. It is
beyond life and death, a timeless creature. We cannot imagine the
existence of human beings and all the living beings without the
protection of Nagas as they filter UV rays in ozone layers. Also,
another layer of Nagas move in between 96 km areal distance and filter
air. This is the reason why some snakes are seen fallen from sky
during big hurricane/ tornado. Anyway, we need to understand that
Nagas are protective snakes; black snakes as well also inhale
poisonous air and purify environment. But, spiritually- black snakes
represent devil (as in Bible) and considered evil omen in Vedic
culture too. Knowing the immense importance of Nagas, Nepal government
owns special law of 20 years imprisonment for killing snake. Snake
sign has been kept in hospital logo in Nepal from ancient time meaning
awareness and indicating that poison can be medicine too. Imbalance of
serpent energy in our body causes physical and mental illness. Ananta
Naga- the king of Serpents or Muccalinda in Buddhist literature, had
saved Buddha from big rain, storm during enlightenment. Nagas are the
protector of scriptures in Buddhism as they call ‘Nagarjun’ which lies
in the north jungle of Kathmandu- the capital city of Nepal.
Obiviously,“No Nagas- No life on earth”. Realizing the immense
importance, Nagas are worshipped since Vedic period in Nepal for
vitality, good luck, longevity and receiving blessing. The serpent
energy ‘Nagas’ is worshipped in almost all the ancient religion but
with different names; endless knot, Wheel of life, infinity, dragon,
Kundalini energy, rahu and ketu whatsoever. But, ‘Nagas’ is worshipped
– adored all over the world as per their culture and tradition but
with the same essence. For an example- Hindus of India worship to
Nagas, Dragon iconographic forerunner of Nagas in Chinese tradition,
Thunder dragon in Bhutan, Klu in Tibetan culture, serpent cultures in
Cocullo Italy (Europe’s oldest festival), Muslim’s immense respect to
snakes during ID festivals, Serpent like figure in Greek mythology
calling Lalima, Wadjet in ancient Egyptian wisdom deity (protector of
pharaohs), Jewish worshipping Nagas expressing the highest form of
love, Irish culture for praying golden Nagas, Snake culture in
Niigata Japan, Serpent worship ‘Dahomey’ in Africa, Nachas in Hebru
representation of divinity, Ancient Greek and Egyptian deity ‘Apepi’ –
giant snake, Egyptian keep a sacred room for their snake God, Aztec
people in Mexico consider Snake as half divine, Sesa (Sesanag) culture
in Java island, Five headed dragon culture in Thailand, Nagalok in
India, serpent worshipping in east London holiness church Kentucky so
on and so forth. Accoriding to Al-Azraqi’sTarikh Makka (the holy book)
Islam worship first to the Snake dwelling near by pond because it is
the snake “Naga’ that safe guards entire Ka’ bah (the main holy place
of Islam. Just the modern people have forgotten our forefather’s
cultural heritage. Hence, it is very much clear that ancient cultures
used to worship Snake considering evolutionary energy. And all the
spiral energy in nature and universe is Nagas energy. We can see a lot
of snake images in Ephesus healing temple in Turkey, images inside
Pyramids too. Serpent logo can be seen in many countries hospital
logo, American medical association. Even Hyppocratics had used serpent
energy symbolizing the rod of life and death. Prior modern
civilization science and spirituality were not two separate things. In
ancient Vedic teachings outer world is what inner world guides in
spiral energy form. Just in the modern day, the fragmentation of
knowledge dominated the intelligence part of human being. So-called,
Science students started to see ancient wisdom as a myth tried to
separate spiral energy/ universal logo from modern science. It is
their ignorance not to know that inner and outer world is deeply
inter-linked. We have preserved ancient wisdom till toady so that
westerners visit Nepal with immense curiosity.
• Two tongues of Nagas indicate connection with cosmic energy. It is
the reason why snakes know prior to earthquake as they have cosmic
connection.
• Snake venom is poisonous but again its venom is used to cure snake
bite – isn’t this duality? This is the reason why all the hospital
has serpent logo in Nepal, Europe, America.
• Nagas stand for awareness as Lord Shiva used to have around his neck
all the time, it is the symbol of awareness. 99 % of world people have
fear of nothing but snake.
• Naga is the symbol of awareness / the essence of life. All human
being carry Nagas inside our body as the coiled serpent ‘Kundalini’ in
yogic term.
• King Bali could not notice the dwarf Brahmin who was in the disguise
form of Lord Vishnu (incarnation of Narayana) so he had to give his
head to step in. Then, he was pushed to Patal lok which is today’s
South America and maya civilization started since then. His Yakshas
(head engineer who had built 3 cities in Indonesia Bali) and his
followers also flew to South America with the most advance aero plane
and landed in NAZCA valley. This is the reason why NAZCA lines are
there. In fact, the aliens were no body but the well-wishers of King
Bali of Greater Nepal. Depicting this fact Mexico has serpent in the
flag which means Garuda (vehicle of Lord Vishnu) transporting Nagas in
Nexico (Patal Lok).
• The snake and bird symbol can be found in Christianity as well.
Bible talks about black serpent calling ‘Satan’, however, we need to
take in positively as it represents awareness. Christ himself is
identified with “Shahapet”, a beneficent serpent who inhabited olive
trees and vine stocks in ancient mythology. Many scholars have found
similar serpentine attitude in European mythology prior to 4500 BCE.
In ancient Europe, serpent was considered benevolent, a symbol of life
and protecting living creatures. Snakes were thought to be guardians
of life symbolizing spiritual richness.
• The bird and spiral energy above Jesus’ head represents Garuda and
Kundalini which they call Holy Spirit. John 3-12 “As the Moses lifted
up serpents in the wilderness- so must the son of man be lifted up.”
The pine cone images in ancient Greek temples as well as in Vatican
City also symbolizes opening of our pineal gland – awakened Kundalini
energy. Nimbus Hallow, duplication of energy signature can be seen in
all enlightened figure – the crown Chakra beyond life and death.
• Description of serpent is found in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve are
tempted by a serpent in the Garden of Eden and ultimately fall victim
to sin. In fact, serpent is not linked with Satan in the Genesis story
because a number of New Testament authors both directly and indirectly
state that it was Satan who seduced Adam and Eve into sin meant for
creating awareness. Smith notes that the serpent became an emblem of
the evil and forbidden apple is the fall of mankind. Also, so the
wicked and enemies in general are often linked to venomous serpents in
the Psalms.
• Moses, following their repentance, made a bronze serpent and set it
up on a pole and whoever was bitten by a serpent could look up on it
and live. Even more fascination is Jesus self comparison with the same
serpent in John 3:14-15 foreshadowing his own death on the cross and
offering salvation. Sir William Smith thus sees the serpent as
symbolic of wisdom which apart from obedience to God, degenerates to
cunning and poison man’s nature but when subjected to the divine law
is the source of healing power.
• In fact, it symbolizes Satan, Wisdom and Shiftiness expression of
dual nature. Snake handling is a ritual based on interpretation of
Mark 16: 17-20 and Luke 10:19 in the Bible. Till to this date, there
are more than 2000 big Churches in Europe that handle poisonous snake
and pray with due respect as described in Gospel of Mark 16 17-18,
gospel of Luke 10: 19 and New Testament 28: 1-6
Therefore, Naga Pooja (Praying for King Serpent) is not only the Vedic
culture of Nepal but entire human beings. Nepalese have kept the
age-old culture alive whereas westerners have forgotten their
forefathers’ culture. One can visit Nepal in mid August and observe
the ‘Nagpanchami’ festival where each and every house prays with great
devotion to the serpent energy.
TUSHITA NEPAL
(The School of Life)
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