If this is not done, disastrous consequences follow, to avert which, that portion of the marriage ceremony in which Kshetrapāl is propitiated has to be performed a second time.[41]
Disagreement between husband and wife soon after marriage is attributed to the wrath of Kshetrapāl. To bring about a reconciliation between them, they are taken to a triangular field and married there to please the god.[42]
All Hindus worship the snake. The day especially devoted to its worship is the fifth day of the bright half of Shrāvan, which is called Nāg panchami. In some places Nāg panchami is observed on the 5th day of the dark half of Shrāvan. On this day an image of a snake is made of cowdung or earth, or its picture is drawn on the wall.
The image is worshipped as a deity, and kulera, a mixture of wheat, oat or rice flour, clarified butter, and sugar or molasses is offered to it. After worship, the members of the household take their meal and eat kulera, cocoanuts and cucumbers. Only one meal is taken on this day by men and women.[43]
The Nāg panchmi is observed as a vrat or vow, generally by women. They do not take any meal on this day, but live only on kulera. On this day, her Highness the Mahārāni of Baroda, mounted on an elephant, goes in procession to the woods to worship an ant-hill. The pipers who accompany the procession blow their pipes, and allured by the sound, the snakes come out of their holes, when they are worshipped and fed with milk.[44]
Women do not pound, grind or sift corn on the Nāg panchami day, and all people try to see a snake.
It is obligatory in some families to offer a cocoanut to the Nāgdev (snake god) on the Nāg panchami day.[45]
In some places, the likeness of the snake is engraved on a stone or copper plate and worshipped. In others, it is drawn on a piece of paper which is affixed to the wall.[46]
In many places there are temples dedicated to snake gods. These gods are known by various names. Some of the temples with the names of the gods installed in them are given below:—
1. The temple of Sarmālio Nāg at Arani Timba near Bikāner.