Snake worship facts for kids

The altar where Jory Goddess is worshipped. The photo is taken at the main temple in Belur Karnataka, India

Snake Worship is the worshipping of snakes. The worshipping of snakes occurs in many ancient cultures. In religion and mythology, snakes were often seen as images of strength, or of renewal.

In Hindu mythology, the snake (or Naga) represents rebirth, death and mortality, as the snake sheds its skin and becomes (symbolically) re-born.

There are many snakes in Greek mythology - some myths feature a snake called "ophion" as one of the original rulers of the world.

The snake is to be considered "the god of good" by the Gnostics.

Images for kids

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  The Caduceus, symbol of God Ningishzida, on the libation vase of Sumerian ruler Gudea, circa 2100 BCE.

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  Snake motif on Bronze Age pottery from Rumailah, Al Ain.

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  A lion-faced, serpentine deity found on a Gnostic gem in Bernard de Montfaucon's L'antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures may be a depiction of the Demiurge.

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  Mami Wata, who plays a major role in various African and African-American religions

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  The classic Maya vision serpent, as depicted at Yaxchilan

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  The Raimondi Stela from the Chavín culture, Ancash, Peru depicts a fanged and clawed figure with snakes for hair.

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  Manasa in a village in the Sundarbans, West Bengal, India

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  Devotions to Nagadevata

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  Naga Temple Kukke Subramanya Swamy temple, Karnataka

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  A roadside temple to Snakes, Tamil Nadu, India

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  Statue of Asclepius in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin

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  Naag or serpent at Naksaal, Kathmandu

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  Nag at Nag pokhari, Naksaal, Kathmandu

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  The Snake God Naga and his consort.The photo is taken at the cave temples clusters of Ajanta, Maharashtra, India

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  Krishna dancing over snake Kaliya at the sand-covered temple ruins in Talakkadu, Karnataka, India.

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  A motif of snake goddess. Carving on volcanic rock at the Kailash Temple, Ellora, India

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  A snake worship altar from south India