Shri Naag Stotra is recited in praise of nagas. 'Nagas',a clan with highly developed culture existed in ancient India.As per the proofs of the Indus Valley civilisation of 3000 B.C. the Nagas worshipped the snakes. It must be noted that only a specific category of serpents called 'Naga' is worshiped, and not all the snakes. After the Naga culture got incorporated into Hinduism, the Indo-Aryans themselves accepted many of the snake deities of the Nagas in their pantheon.The prominent Cobra snakes mentioned in the Puranas are Anant, Vasuki, Shesh, Padma, Kanwal, Karkotak, Kalia, Aswatar, Takshak, Sankhpal, Dhritarashtra and Pingal. As per the historians,these were not the snakes but the powerful Naga Kings. Nag-Panchami is a very important Hindu festival which is celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the moonlit-fortnight in the month of "Shravan"(July /August).It is believed that this day provides special pleasure to divine snakes and this is the reason Naga Panchami is still widely celebrated all across the India.This festival offers respect to snakes. People observe fast and offer milk and silver jewelry to the Cobras to protect them from all evils.This festival is to celebrate the day of lord Krishna's victory over the snake Kalia.On this auspiceous day the villagers put up swings and enjoy themselves.The brides visit their parents on this occasion.
श्री नाग स्तोत्र
अगस्त्यश्च पुलस्त्यश्च वैशम्पायन एव च ।
सुमन्तुजैमिनिश्चैव पञ्चैते वज्रवारका: ॥१॥
मुने: कल्याणमित्रस्य जैमिनेश्चापि कीर्तनात् ।
विद्युदग्निभयं नास्ति लिखितं गृहमण्डल ॥२॥
अनन्तो वासुकि: पद्मो महापद्ममश्च तक्षक: ।
कुलीर: कर्कट: शङ्खश्चाष्टौ नागा: प्रकीर्तिता: ॥३॥
यत्राहिशायी भगवान् यत्रास्ते हरिरीश्वर: ।
भङ्गो भवति वज्रस्य तत्र शूलस्य का कथा ॥४॥
