WHAT IS NAGABANDHAM? WHY ARE NAGABANDHAMS PLACED IN TEMPLES?

Once upon a time, in an ancient village surrounded by green hills and deep forests, there lived a wise sage named Rishyasringa. The villagers respected him deeply because he could understand the language of nature birds, trees, rivers, and even snakes. One day, the villagers came running to the sage, frightened. “O Sage,” they said, “a terrible drought has struck our land. Our crops are dying, the rivers are drying, and the snakes have become restless. Please help us!”

The sage sat in meditation under a large banyan tree. In his vision, he saw the cause of the problem. The powerful Nagas divine serpent beings who protected the flow of water and guarded the sacred energies of the Earth, were angry. Their resting places had been disturbed by people digging deep for wells and ignoring the ancient rituals.

The sage explained to the villagers, “The Nagas are not evil. They are sacred guardians of nature. If we honor them with respect and devotion, they will bless our land with rain, peace, and protection.” He then instructed them to create a Nagabandham a sacred stone structure with serpent designs under a holy tree near the temple. This was to be the symbol of peace between humans and the divine serpent energy.

A beautiful stone idol of a coiled serpent was carved and placed beneath the shade of a Peepal tree, next to the village temple. It was decorated with turmeric, vermilion, and milk every Monday and during special festivals like Nag Panchami. The women of the village tied sacred threads (raksha bandhan) around the Nagabandham, praying for the protection of their family and good health of their children.

As days passed, the rain returned. The rivers flowed again, crops bloomed, and the village was full of joy. The villagers understood that the Nagabandham was not just a structure, but a reminder of harmony between humans and nature, and the respect we must give to all living beings.

From then on, placing Nagabandhams in temples became a tradition across many villages and towns. It is believed that Nagabandhams protect the temple’s divine energy, ward off evil, and bless devotees with fertility, good health, and prosperity. Many couples who face delays in having children also offer prayers at the Nagabandham to seek blessings from the serpent gods.

In many temples, especially in South India, you can still see beautifully carved serpent stones, often under sacred trees, worshipped with great devotion. These symbols remind us of the ancient bond between humans and the energies of the Earth, and how we must live in balance with all beings.

And so, the tradition of Nagabandham lives on not just as a religious practice, but as a living story of harmony, respect, and divine protection