Of Snakes and Cultural Bridges
Culture 101: The Animals of India!
Please read the first post in this series of Cultural Bridges; it may help to set context.
In college, another common question I often received was about snakes and snake-charmers. Do snakes roam the streets? I unravel the mystery of snakes in this post. Let's delve into the mythology first.
[Note - Before we embark on this cultural journey into the world of snakes in India, I'd like to assure you—there are no real-world snake images included in this post. There are some visual images of mythical snakes depicted on the Gods.]
Hindu Mythology
Snakes are widely worshipped in India. They feature prominently in mythological stories of divinity. A dedicated day in the Hindu lunar calendar year allows for snake deity worship, where offerings of milk and fruits are made in homes and temples. Many wayside snake shrines can be found under large peepul or sacred fig trees across India.
Note: To keep things simple, I only share the main takeaways. To learn more, please visit the curated links sprinkled throughout the cultural bridge stories.
One intriguing tale tells of a King Cobra raising its hood over a banished prince as he slept. The snake leaves him unharmed, and the act of raising the hood over his sleeping form foretells his crowning as king.
In Hindu mythology, snakes were born to a wise sage and his second wife, both of whom were humans.
[If you didn’t like fantasy before this post, you will appreciate it now!]
Among these snakes, the first, second, and fourth (all male) are the most famous and relevant for our story.
The first snake (let’s call him S) is a five-headed serpent, detailed in the link above, serving as a Yogic bed for the main deity in Hinduism, the Preserver. This spiritually powerful serpent is a constant companion to God whenever he incarnates on Earth.
Read and see the images of the most important snake in Hindu mythology here.
The second snake (let’s call him V) is always wrapped around the neck of another main deity, the Destroyer.
Various stories elaborate on why V coils around the neck. In one telling, V helps God to protect humankind, and as a reward for his devotion, God wears the snake as an ornament.
Another perspective suggests that the snake represents the ego, and since God is egoless, V exists outside of his body.
In yet another telling, the snake represents time (past, present and future) regulated by God. Since God is beyond time, he keeps the snake forever under his control.
The fourth snake (let’s call him T) causes the death of a mighty king (let’s call him King P) due to a curse.
[Oh, and curses are a recurring theme in Hindu mythological stories.]
In response, King P’s son invokes a powerful mantra (and hosts a sacrificial fire) to avenge his father’s death. This nearly destroys all snakes on Earth as they fall into the fire drawn by the power of the mantra.
Note: Mantras are extremely powerful in Hindu mythology; they can be used to invoke blessings or catastrophes on others. Their use in the English language to refer to a strong belief or affirmation is apt.
Worried, the second snake (V) tries to protect his brother snake (T) and the remaining snakes.
He sends his human (Yep, it seems strange to clarify it!) nephew (let’s call him A) to save the remaining snakes as he is the only one blessed by the Gods with such power.
[Liking fantasy yet? Stick with me; there is a point!]
A succeeds, and outwitted, King P’s son pardons T, and halts the sacrifice.
Moved by the sense of purpose shown by A, King P’s son grants A’s prayer that henceforth, any person fearing snakes will be saved from harm simply by invoking A’s name.
If mantras are powerful, so are boons, and curses.
The Kundalini reference in Yoga
As some of you may know, Kundalini is usually referred to as a coiled snake at the base of the spine. When invoked through meditation and other practices, passively or actively, it uncoils, and results in the release of spiritual energy through various levels or chakras. The topic is beyond the scope of this post, but the link shared has an excellent summary of the topic.
Thus, snakes, in Hindu mythology, are super-important.
Myths in everyday life
The tales above are woven into the fabric of Indian lore.
For instance, some people in India believe that you should not think of snakes at night, else you will invite them into your home.
If you accidentally think of them (ahem, remember psychology suggests that the mind goes where you say it must not!), then just repeating the name of the wise nephew (A) three times will prevent any harm and ward off the snakes.
[This reveals the secret to overcoming fear of snakes anywhere! So I shall unveil his name - it is Astika! ]
Killing snakes, especially a snake's mate, is frowned upon in India.
Why ?
Well, in the same mythological story, T bit King P to indirectly avenge the death of his wife. Because it was King P’s grandfather who had caused his mate’s death accidentally when he set a forest on fire to win the Great War.
[Now do you see why King P was critical and why stories in Hindu mythology are as convoluted as a Greek epic?]
It is believed that snakes will avenge their partner's death as T did in the above tale.
This myth is fully embraced by Bollywood in weaving many stories where snakes are the star and humans are saved by snakes as emissaries of God.
So, in real life, what are people to do if they shouldn’t kill the snakes? The usual remedy is to capture the snakes for release into the wild or transfer to a zoo.
However, in practice, this isn't strictly adhered to, as human safety or convenience tends to take precedence.
Also, remember, snake charmers first originated in India. If a snake is captured, it may have its fangs removed and be used as a means to earn a living.
For a good overview of the history and current practices of Indian snake charmers, refer to this summary.
Cobras are among the deadliest snakes globally. The King Cobra, native to India, holds the title of the world’s largest venomous snake.
Personal Encounters
Rapid urban expansion in cities in India has resulted in intrusions onto a snake's natural habitats causing them to invade homes.
My first encounter with a live snake was at my aunt's place in Bangalore during a summer road trip. A , King Cobra had been spotted in the garage. Locals in the neighborhood gathered around and the snake was killed.
If you come across anthills in India, you might be surprised to learn that they are often believed to house snakes or to predict a snake's presence nearby, even when seemingly empty. These anthills, technically 'termite hills,' dot the landscape along highways, and I've even seen a large one in a city nature park.
Exercise caution if you spot anthills while trekking in India.
The closest I came to a snake again was when a massive five-foot cobra slithered through our garden. It was spotted by a family member relaxing in the garden, fortunately from a safe distance. I missed the event when it happened as I was returning home from work.
In modern cities, we have access to snake rescuers. The snake was soon caught and safely relocated in a brown jute bag (known as a gunny bag). Typically, these snakes are then sold to a local biopark for a small fee.
During our summer trips, we used to see snakes cross the roads at night when we drove through any forest areas. Some drivers would regale us with stories of how they found snakes coiled inside the engine under the hood.
Read this excellent article on the types of snakes found in Bangalore, and the impact of urbanisation on the wildlife.
In India, private and government hospitals often stock ready-to-use snake venom shots. They are used as effective antidotes for snake bites.
On a different note, as I was driving by, I once witnessed one of two guys holding a large stone high above his head, aiming it at a snake near a lake, getting ready to kill it. It was a disheartening sight, although it was unclear what type of snake it was. The fact that a huge lake was just across the road, perhaps meant that the snake was on its way back home.
I have seen snakes slithering in the waters in a large neighborhood lake and have had walkers warn others when they have spotted snakes in the evening after dark.
Many parks typically close after 7 pm, partly due to the increased risk of encountering snakes in the darkness and others may also have signs like the one below, even if challenged by spacing!
Conclusion
So, the next time someone asks you, 'Do snakes roam the streets?' the definitive answer is: No! Unless you come across a snake charmer (a dying art) on the street (in Delhi, by India Gate or Dilli Hut) or happen to reside in an area where wild habitats have been disrupted, or are walking after sunset in lake parks, with a known snake population.
In general, though, you are quite safe traversing through India’s cities and following wildlife rules that are mostly the same the world over.
However, stone snake deities can be seen by the roadside or in temples all around. India is a land ancient, and the myths are now part of daily living for millions of people.
Enjoyed this story ? Please share, and subscribe to HelloIndia! for original takes on Indian culture. Don’t forget to share your interesting snake stories in the comments.