Sri Naaga Raju and Sri Naagini Devathas

SRI NAAGADEVATHA GAYATRI MANTHRA

OM NAAGADEVATHAYA VIDHMAHE
JWALA MALAYA DHEEMAHEE
THANNO ANANDA PRACHODHAYAATH

Rahu and Kethu are two nodal Grahams (planets) that form the head and tail of Naaga. Therefore, the presence of Rahu and Kethu in different houses of the Zodiac will have an impact on various rasis (zodiac signs). Worshipping Naaga Raju and Naaga Devatha will propitiate Rahu and Kethu and remove their malefic influences. All devotees born under the rasis of Simha, Kanya, Vrischika, Makara, Kumbha, Meena, Vrishiba, and Karkataka will be particularly benefited by worshipping and participating in the Naaga Devatha Prathishta. Those born under other rasis will also benefit. We urge all devotees to participate in the Naaga Devatha Prathishta on August 28th, 2006 which is also the day of Naagapanchami.

Devotees who sponsor will be given a precious stone that they can place during the Naaga Raju and Naagadevatha Prana Prathishta and benefit eternally from the blessings.

We are fortunate to have Naaga Devatha Prathishta and we would like to share some information regarding Naaga Devatha- Naaga Kanya so that devotees can understand the significance of Naaga Devathas as it relates to us in the human plane. In the first part of this presentation, I would like to share with you what is commonly known about the significance of Naaga Devatha as it relates to every religion known to mankind. The significance of the coiled serpent’s energy was known to Sumerians, who used it as a symbol of divine communication and divine power. Even prior to Sumerian civilization, myths about the serpent and its significance as their divine attributes have all been mentioned in numerous ancient paintings. Prior to 6000 B.C., there were many myths that were not written, but drawn in paintings and these were considered legends of “serpent power.” Myths became manifested in written form after Sumerian writings. Myths and logos is the activity of human consciousness, which translates or transfers the underlying forms and powers from the unconscious to the conscious, from the dream world to the world of activity and reality. In the modern day, we have discounted the power and reality of the myths so much and degrading them to the level of fairy tales, that we have lost contact with our Origin; we are unable to understand the ancient metaphorical symbolic thoughts and writings about “serpent-power" (kundalini energy) and Naaga Devathas. We have discarded many of our ancient myths and legends, which have deep meaning, if analyzed metaphorically, allegorically and symbolically. As a result of our ignorance, we have thrown the baby (which is deep mystical divine information) along with the bathwater as useless and unnecessary data. Reverend Joseph Campbell has stated that throughout the inhabited world, in all time and under every circumstance, the myths and legends of man have flourished and they have been the living inspiration for whatever else may have appeared out of activities of human body and mind, it would not be too much to say that myth is the secret opening through which inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural consciousness and manifestation. Many of the serpent myths and legends have a deep meaning behind them, such as Indian mythologies or Sumerian, Mesopotamian, Assyrian, Native American, Syrian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Australian. Asian mystical stories are all very symbolic and metaphorical of the ancient people and through metaphysical dimensions, explained the origins and nature of the cosmos and on the psychological plane, mystical stories addressed to the innermost depths of the human psyche. As such, they are usually functional and are the science of primitive people. Religious myths of sacred history are distinguished from the profane and all told of the divine nature through the human experience, which cannot be explained by the normal use of language. In fact, language does not do justice for experience, particularly the one of inner divine experience. Prior to Judeo-Christian influence in the western society, all the ancients throughout the world, including Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Incas, Mayan, Australian, Asian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek and Roman all considered the spirit of “serpent” very close to divine spirit, although vibrationally may be closer to the human level of consciousness and human realms of existence.

The Naaga Devathas or the serpent angels have been respected and worshipped for a long, long time, ever since mankind knew about higher, mystical powers. This serpent, mystical aspect has been present in all religions of the world. In Native American religions, the serpent has a special place in many of their rituals, again as an auspicious symbol. In the Easter Island, it is called “simp” a very powerful snake god of darkness. More powerful was Tempala, a hunter serpent god. These entities are morally neutral and will work for good or evil, depending on who and which god they are serving. An aspect of the serpent’s spirit called ‘impala’ is a god of the farmers. Haitian legend has it that Tempala the serpent god created all the waters of the earth in the form of a serpent. The movement of this formed hills and valleys and brought forth stars and planets and heaven. In Central America both in Mayan and Incan cultures, the serpent has a very significant place as a mediator between the highest divine and the human. God of Cucan in Maya was one of the major gods and was serpentine. In the Baltic region, Atolio was the god of the four elements, he was also the creator god and the god of resurrection and the god of reincarnation.

In the early ruins Mayan temple, we find a pyramid dedicated to the divine serpent. During that Judeo- Christian period, we find transition happening where the serpent was given a function of inauspiciousness or demonic. In Pre-Moses Jewish tamalic tradition, the serpent was considered mediator of gnosis or divine wisdom. The God of the Old Testament called “Demiurge (in Hindu Vedic tradition he was called “Visvakarma”) created the world-universe from the minute quantity of “divine light” from the “supreme Divine consciousness” (in our tradition this supreme divine consciousness will be referred to as “Parashakthi”). The serpent in the Genesis gave the “way” to go back to the Divine through the advice to Eve to eat the “Apple” which is the true wisdom or gnosis, which will lead to our emancipation and redemption. That is why the God of the Old Testament the Demiurge “cast Adam and Eve away from “heaven” and cursed the serpent to be demonic. When the serpent in the story of Genesis told Eve to eat the apple, essentially the Divine serpent was giving her a clue as to how to get wisdom and gnosis and once you obtain that you break through Maya (the eternal illusion) and see the ‘reality.’ Only highly evolved souls will have a chance to eat the ‘apple’ and gain the “divine wisdom.” Most souls will not have the opportunity and they have to evolve by using their physical senses, feelings, earthly emotions, and their character. Once they reach a certain stage, gnosis will come to them and then they will start seeing ‘reality’ as it should be seen and that will hasten their evolution faster and at that stage, the effect of Maya is overcome through their inner vision and divine grace. Naaga Raja and Naaga Devatha worship will enhance our evolution along with their protective role in preventing human tragedies. This also helps us in waking up our own dormant “serpent fire,” namely the awakening of “Kundalini energy.”

In Hindu traditions, a serpent has always been auspicious; Sri Maha Vishnu lies on Aadhisesha, who is a manifestation of Naaga Devatha. Lord Sri Ganesha, the God of supreme wisdom ties a cobra around his waist to show the significance of serpentine power. Lord Siva has a serpent around His neck, again symbolizing “Kundalini energy” and His control over it. Naaga Devathas as “Ananda” is considered an energy goddess who holds the heavenly bodies in their place. When one views galaxies through powerful telescopes they appeared as coiled like Ananda-serpent. Angels of Kundalini, the Naaga Devatha take the form of a “serpent,” which is a coiled form of Kundalini Sakthi present in all human; but in a very dormant form at Muladhara chakra. Even in the Buddhist tradition, it is a “cobra” that saves the soul from the painful cycle of rebirths to achieve the true bliss or Ananda. At our temple, the Naaga Devathas have been active from the beginning and many of our devotees have felt the vision and the power of the Naaga Devathas.

Those who had the experience most were going through Rahu or Kethu dasa or bhukthis. This astrological period in one's life is conducive for evolution spiritually and one is able to communicate with higher vibrational and divine entities. We are fortunate that the Divine Mother has instructed us to bring Naaga Devathas to our temple so that everyone in our congregation and those who visit our temple can have the opportunity to be blessed by the Naaga Devathas; both directly and through their own Kundalini ascension. Our own Kundalini ascension can be enhanced by the Naaga Devathas who are the embodiment of all the dormant kundalini energy present in humans. The Divine Mother also informs us that vibrational energies of the Naaga Devathas come closest to the human realm of existence and vibrational activity. Since vibrationally they are closest to humans, it is very logical that we can obtain divine grace easily through them.

Our Divine Mother, who is “supreme divine consciousness” out of kindness, has materialized in the universe, as both Purusha and Prakruthi. Since our Divine Mother has transcended from the highest to the lowest, it is but natural that She wishes to activate the Naaga Devatha aspect here at our temple since They can easily convey our Divine Mother’s blessing and grace to us. As time passes more and more information about the Naaga Devatha aspects will be passed on to our devotees, so that the perception of their presence would increase our receptivity and that we can show great reverence and devotion to them and receive divine grace through them. Since our Divine Mother has come down to protect us from violent events that are going to happen to us in the near future, She has chosen the Naaga Devathas to be our protectors and conveyer of Her grace to us at our temple. We all are truly blessed and fortunate to have the Naaga Devathas as a deity and a mediator at our temple. I hope all our devotees will understand the significance and take part in their homa and worship to receive their protective aspect, which will be bestowed upon us all.