Snakes are believed to be the step-brothers of the gods. They reside under the earth and are very powerful. The snake is considered to be very beautiful among creeping animals, and is one of the ornaments of the god Shiva. An image of a snake made of brass is kept in the temple of the god Shiva, and worshipped daily along with the god. There is a custom among the Hindus of worshipping Nága, i.e., the cobra, once a year on the Nága panchami day, i.e., the fifth day of the bright half of Shráwan (August). Images of snakes are drawn with sandalpaste on a wooden board or on the walls of houses, and worshipped by Hindu women on this day. Durva grass, sacred to Ganpati, parched rice láhya, legumes kadadan, and milk are offered to this image. Some people go to the snake’s abode Várul—an ant-hill—on this day to worship the snake itself, if they happen to catch sight of it.[28]
It is said that at Battisa Shirále in the Belgáum District the real Nága comes out of its abode below the earth on this day, and is worshipped by the people. Milk and láhya, parched rice, are put outside the house at night on this day with the intention that they may be consumed by a snake. Hindus do not dig or plough the earth on Nága panchami day. Even vegetables are not cut and fried on this day by some people.[29]
Earthen images of snakes are worshipped by some people in the Konkan districts on the Nága panchami day. The Nága is considered to be a Bráhman by caste, and it is believed that the family of the person who kills a snake becomes extinct. The cobra being considered a Bráhman, its dead body is adorned with the jánawe, and then burnt as that of a human being. A copper coin is also thrown into its funeral pile.[30]
At certain villages in the Deccan a big earthen image of a snake is consecrated in a public place on the Nága panchami day, and worshipped by Hindus in general. Women sing their songs in circles before this image while men perform tamáshás by its side. In fact, the day is enjoyed by the people as a holiday. The snake is removed next day, and an idol in the form of a man made of mud is seated in its place. This idol is called Shirálshet, who is said once to have been a king and to have ruled over this earth for one and one-fourths of a ghataka, i.e., for half an hour only. This day, is observed as a day of rejoicing by the people.[31]
The names of the snake deities are Takshaka, Vásuki and Shesha. Their shrines are at Kolhápur, Nágothane, Prayaga, Nágadeváchi Wádi and Subramhanya. A great fair is held every year at Battisa Shirále on the Nága panchami day.[31]
There is a shrine of a snake deity at Sávantwádi. The management of the shrine is in the hands of the State officials. It is believed that a real snake resides therein.[32]
There is a shrine of a snake deity at Awás in the Alibág taluka of the Kolába District, where a great fair is held every year on the 14th day of the bright half of Kártik (November). It is said that persons suffering from snakebites recover when taken in time to this temple.[33]
It is said that a covetous person who acquires great wealth during his life-time and dies without enjoying it, or without issue, becomes a snake after death, and guards his buried treasures. At Kolhápur there was a Sáwkár—money-lender—named Kodulkar who is said to have become a snake, and to guard his treasures. In the village of Kailava in the Panhála petha of the Kolhápur District there is a snake in the house of a Kulkarni, who scares away those who try to enter the storehouse of the Kulkarni.[34]
It is a general belief among the Hindus that snakes guard treasures. It is said that there are certain places guarded by snakes in Goa territory. Persons who were compelled to abandon Portuguese territory owing to religious persecutions at the hands of the Portuguese buried their treasures beneath the ground. Those who died during exile are said to have become bhuts or ghosts, and it is believed that they guard their buried treasures in the form of snakes.[35]
The Hindus generally believe that the snakes who guard buried treasures do not allow any one to go near them. The snake frightens those who try to approach, but when he wishes to hand over the treasure to anybody he goes to that person at night, and tells him in a dream that the treasure buried at such and such a place belongs to him, and requests him to take it over. After the person has taken possession of the treasure as requested, the snake disappears from the spot.[36]