Chaitra Shukla Paksha is important for Kashmiri Pandit children

Hira Lal Kak

Kashmir is one of the principal centres of serpent worship in India. There is no doubt that snake worship prevailed in the valley from a very early period Records at great length speak about how Kashmir was created out of the water and left to the care of the Nagas, of whom Nila, the son of Kashyapa, was the chief Nila and the Nagas kings puja is propitiated on the 1st Day of Shukla paksha in the month of Chaitra Another ceremony called Varuna Panchami puja is held on the fifth day of Bhadra and is connected with the worship of the serpent king Nila The four dikpalas of Kashmir are, ie four Nagas bindusaras in the east Srimadaka in the south, Elapatra in the west and Uttaramanasa in the north.

Nilamata Purana next relates the manner in which Kashmir became inhabited- "At first. human beings could live there only for six months. The remaining half of the year was occupied by Pisachas under their rule, named Nikumbha. At the beginning of spring, when the snow would melt away, the Pishacha king, with his whole army, left the country and fought the goblins living in the sand ocean. Thus, it continued during four yugas. Then one year, an old Brahaman, Chandradeva by name, stayed behind and found refuge in the subterranean palace of Nila, the king of Nagas Not only did he find shelter here against the cold, but the serpent king consented to his wish that in future, the people should be allowed to dwell in the country the whole year round.

Moreover, Nila imparted to his guest the rites which the inhabitants of Kashmir should observe. From then onwards the people were no longer troubled by the Pishacha. Further, the Nilamata says, "Ira is dear to the Nagas, and to me she is especially so, whosoever pays worship to me in an Ira garden with Ira flowers, with him I am pleased excessively."

The rites ordained by Nila occupied about two-thirds of the extended text of the Nilamata Purana. It describes two festivals which are closely connected with the legend of the Pishacha The full moon day of Chaitra, the first month of spring, is the day on which Nikumbhaand his host of goblins were about to leave the country. On that day, it is ordained that people should make a clay image of Nikumbha and pay reverence to it. The night should be passed with music, and the next day the people should ascend the hills to say farewell to Nikumbha. The return of the pisachi army is commemorated on the full moon day of Ashvan or Ashvayuj, the first month of autumn. On that day, the image of Nikumbha is worshipped. People must place an oil lamp outside their houses during the night, a custom which is still observed in Kashmir.

Another feast which has a seasonal character is the festival of the first snowfall. On this occasion, the Himalayas must be worshipped and the two cold seasons, Hemanta and Shishira It can be no matter of surprise that Nila, too, partakes in the worship, considering that the snowfall is attributed to the agency of the Nagas He is, indeed, to be presented with the offerings of flowers and fruits and with the incense of bdellium (guggle) Brahmins are to be fed with jaggery and ghee. The festival of the first fall of snow is associated with another solemnity peculiar to Kashmir, which, as Dr Bhuler observed, would rather be the practice of orthodox Brahmins in the plains of India. On this occasion, the goddess Shyama receives

special worship in the form of offering flowers, incense, ointments, food, fruits and roots. Another festivity in which Nila and the Naga participate is celebrated in the month of Chaitra when Nikumbha goes out of the country. It is called Iramanjaripuja and has the festival of the spring festival Ira was an Apsara Nila, and the Nagas were also propitiated on the Iramanjaripuja festivity (New snowfall day, in Kashmiri Navsheen), which took place in the month of Chaitra.

Another ceremony called VaruGa panchami was held on the fifth day of Bhadra and connected with the worship of serpent king Nila under Dhanda The religious significance of the water is established by the Nilamata Purana when it records the entire land of Kashmir ast the material manifestation of Uma and describes her as the divine form of the Vitasta (the Jhelum).

The Nilamata Purana is the oldest record of the legend. Most of the rites prescribed by Nilamata Purana are concerned with the nature of the worship of popular deities. But some festivals are particularly connected with the worship of Naga or serpent. The Nilamata PuraNa also records the names of the principal Nagas worshipped in Kashmir, the total number of which was 527. The four dikpalas of Kashmir, mentioned by the author of the Nilamata PuraGa, were four Nagas - Bindusara in the east, Srimadaka in the south, Elapatra in the west and Uttaramanasa in the north. From a remote period, great importance must have been attached to the worship of the Nagas, as shown by their long account in the Nilamata PuraGa Many temples, built near some of the famous springs and undoubtedly the early origin of the Pilgrimages directed to them, clearly pointed out the popularity of the Naga cult in ancient Kashmir. According to the Nilamata Purana, the Nagas were supposed to reside in the lakes and springs of the valley. Even now, names of places like Verinag, Anantnag, Cecanag, etc., show traces of ancient Naga beliefs.

Nilmata Purana speaks worship of Kartikeya and is performed on the 6th of Shukla paksha, Chaitra mass, every year for the welfare and safety of the children of Kashmir .

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:- Hira Lal Kak and December 2022 Koshur Samachar