Author: K. Hari Kumar
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Have you read about the practice of Serpent Worship in India?
K. Hari Kumar combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling to
uncover the cultural, spiritual, and historical significance of serpent worship
in India. From the Naagabanas and Sarpakaavus of the southwestern coast, to the
East where the goddess Manasa is worshipped, to remote Himalayan peaks that
echo with lore of guardian serpents, Naaga is a fascinating exploration that
reveals shared truths, striking contrasts, and the unwavering reverence for
these sacred beings across the subcontinent. Embark on a journey into a world
where serpents are guardians of cosmic order, protectors, adversaries and
symbols of power-deities that continue to inspire awe and devotion in India’s
spiritual consciousness.
Naaga is a book that is very well researched, and as a reader, you get pulled into the world that Hari brings to you from his travels and research. Divided into 4 sections, the first 2 sections explore the themes, nomenclature and the practice of serpent worship in India. The remaining 2 chapters bring out the various stories from the local cultures and the epics. I loved how the book starts with the explanation of the names of the various deities, and what it is the story behind each of them. Hari also presents the variations that exist across our land for the same stories. Moving forward, we are present with the various ways in which serpents are worshipped across various cultures, and how those are at times governed by local beliefs and customs. Hari’s research is thorough and while this is a non-fiction book, you are engrossed in the stories that he tells from the Puranas, Vedas and the local folktales. The writing in the book is engaging, and he has planned the book in a perfect fashion where he introduces us to the practice of ophiolatry, the various deities, and then the practices of ophiolatry. As he slowly takes you into this world, he piques your interest in the theme, and then you take this journey with him, not as a reader, but as a co-traveller. The descriptions are quite vivid and you can visualize most of the places he describes, before googling them. Another aspect of the book I really loved was that there is reverence and respect in the way he writes about the places, practices and the stories which comes out very nicely. The last 2 sections of the book, recounting the stories from the epics and folktales is quite interesting. He has meticulously picked up the stories and presented them in the book which ties perfectly with the first half of the book where we get to know the deities and the practices. This part of the book rounds up the research and the deep dive into ophiolatry as it shows us the reasons why serpent worship became prevalent, and how it is entwined with our culture.
The book is an excellent read if you are looking to know about the
various practices of serpent worship in the country, and the stories behind why
we do, what we do. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.
Get a copy of the book from a bookstore near you, or on Amazon India.
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