5 Myths about Snakes in India

Myths and traditions are very powerful tools but it depends on what they stand for, some have proven to be highly beneficial for our communities and wildlife but some have had devastating effects on wildlife. Particularly talking about snakes, they hold a strong significance in many religions and cultures. In some cultures they are protected and worshipped because of their believed relation with the god, whereas mostly they are considered to be evil and demonic. Some even see them as the true form of demon and some see them as an ill-omen sent by someone through black magic. It shows how on one hand snakes are worshipped but on the other hand they are demeaned of being devilish creatures which they never were and never will be. They are a part of nature just like us.

And there is a very peculiar thing about myths and traditions, even in these times where people want a reason and logic to everything, we never question myths and traditions passed on from generation to generation. Why? Because they are programmed as absolute truths in our brains that can never be questioned. Sounds relatable, right?

This blog is about 5 most widespread myths about snakes in India. I will try my best to explain these myths to you and bust them with logic and reasoning. But before reading any further, please forget all baseless things about serpents you have heard so far.

1. Snake Charming –

Snake charming has long been an integral part of India’s identity to the world, when tourists from all around the globe came to see this practice. But as time passed by, people got corrupted and started to play on the beliefs of the people. I am not going to go in depth about it in this blog, so lets just move onto the main points.

The first false impression that the snake charmers fool people with is to use a pungi to play certain tunes and show that they are hypnotizing the snake. The fact to counter this myth is that snakes don’t have external ears like us. Snakes do not have external ear, middle ear or tympanic membrane (ear drum), instead they use small ossicle (ear bone) called the columella, to conduct vibrations of sound waves conducted through the ground. They are able to pick up some sound waves conducted through the air, but only at a very low frequency.

Usually the snake used for the show is a cobra, which are snakes who focus more on the movements in front of them and the snake charmer takes an advantage of it. They start moving their pungi while playing it and the cobra, with its natural instincts follows the movement of the pungi, thus giving an impression of dancing.

Many snake charmers also fancy their skills of being immune to snake venom but the truth is that as soon as they capture the snake from the wild, they use a sharp blade to slit the venom glands of the snake, break their fangs with an iron rod and many a times use an adhesive to seal their mouth.

Now in spite of knowing this many people tend to ignore it because how the snake charmers try to manipulate them by talking about the connection of the snake (usually an Indian Spectacle Cobra) with the Hindu god Shiva. This reason alone destroys all the logic and reasoning in the minds of the people and they become blind followers of what the snake charmer says.

2. Snakes drink milk –

This is another famous myth about snakes and many might get a proof as to show how a snake is gulping milk at a temple on the occasion of Nag Panchmi. Yes, you are right that many videos and images show snakes drinking milk but does that mean that they enjoy drinking milk. There is a reason behind this.

Before a month or two of the commencement of the celebrations of Nag Panchmi, snakes are caught from the wild and defanged. They are then kept in small earthen pots without food or water. On the day of the Nag Panchmi they are taken out and transported to temples for the ceremony. Remember that the snake has not eaten or drank anything for two long months and it’s obviously dehydrated. So the first thing the snake is offered at the temple is cold milk and the snake being out of options will drink it to quench its thirst and sadly kill itself. The snake in one way or the other die, as snakes or for that matter any other reptile is lactose intolerant and consuming milk kills them. Also the milk offered is cold which can lead to pneumonia or lung infection to the snake.

It’s strange that on a day meant for worshipping snakes, they are mercilessly killed, knowingly or unknowingly. If you are interested in knowing more about the festival of Nag Panchmi, feel free to check out my blog; Mass-Killing of Snakes in the name of “Tradition” ? (https://harpreetswildlife.com/2021/05/19/example-post-3/)

Apart from Nag Panchmi, the superstitions and beliefs of people in others who claim themselves to be the enlightened and who suggest various things to do to ensure happiness or to get some work done or to get rid of sorrows and pain in life is yet another problem. Now one of these remedies suggested to fool people is to offer milk to a snake to please lord Shiva so that he blesses them. But I don’t think that killing an animal for your happiness and needs is fair and that the god will be impressed by such an act of killing an innocent. Therefore it is important to educate yourself and the others around you.

3. Snakes possess an invaluable stone called the Nagmani –

For centuries it is believed that when a Nag preserves its venom for (usually an Indian Spectacled Cobra) a 100 years, an extremely valuable and rare gem forms inside or on its head which gives the snake supernatural powers like the Nagmani shining during the night to help the snake hunt. According to a scientific research and wildlife experts there is no such thing as Nagmani.

To counter this myth, here I present before you certain facts; biologically an Indian Cobra can only live upto 15 to 20 years and they cannot preserve their venom for a 100 long years. Venom is basically a complex and modified saliva which not only acts as a defense mechanism or to kill its prey but also helps to digest its food. Venom comprises of complex proteins which are very essential to digest its food. Without using its venom it won’t be able to defend itself or hunt or digest its prey. And talking about the Nagmani emitting bright light to help the snake hunt, snakes use their forked tongue to hunt at night. The Indian Spectacled Cobra particularly has poor sight and has to rely more on its senses to hunt. Whenever it flickers its forked tongue, it collects heavy odour particles from the surrounding. The particles are then transferred to the Vomeronasal organ or the Jacobson’s organ. Vomeronasal organ is a patch of sensory cells within the main nasal chamber that detects odour particles and sends the information to the brain thus helping the snake to smell and detect its prey. Therefore, there is no need of such luminous Nagmani for the snake to hunt.

Some corrupt people still make use of this myth to fool people and earn a penny. Cobras or Nags have loose skin around their hood and at the end of their head. Snake charmers use a sharp blade to make a slit at the end of their heads and insert a stone in it. After a few days the wound heals up with the stone inside. The snake charmers then gather big crowds and make a slit at the exact same spot to show the Nagmani and the people are amazed by the act. Usually a black benzite carbonate stone is shown as a Nagmani. These stones claimed to be a Nagmani are sold for a fortune in the market.

To know more about Nagmani, check out my blog; The Truth of Nagmani (https://harpreetswildlife.com/2021/05/20/the-truth-of-nagmani/)

4. Snakes take revenge –

This one is by far the most exaggerated myth among all of them in the list and surprisingly it is also one of the most feared one as well. First of all there is absolutely no scientific basis of snakes taking revenge for the main reason being that snakes do not have a very specialized brain to understand a feeling like revenge.

Now many might question the accounts of eye witnesses. So, the answer to that is, when a snake dies it expels its musk from the anal openings. Therefore when a snake passing nearby smells it, it might visit to investigate as to what the musk is all about, and usually it is due to sexual attraction.

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5. There are very rare and sacred multi-headed snakes out in the wilderness –

There have been images online of snakes with multiple heads being related to Sheshnag. Sheshnag is said to be the Nagraj or the king of snakes. It is also believed that Lord Vishnu rests on Sheshnag. But this is yet another example where some corrupt people try to fool others and play on their beliefs. So, the truth is that there is no multi-headed snake.

But surprisingly there are snakes with two heads. This is called Bicephaly which means a condition of having two heads which is a genetic deformity. Its very rare in the wild as it would be difficult for it to hunt and eat. Usually such snakes are more common in captivity and are supplied for the pet trade.

I hope this blog was worth the research and time that took me to complete it and I hope that it cleared out some of the myths that had been programmed in to your brains. I hope that it answered some of your questions that you weren’t allowed to ask and I hope that with another blog I was able to educate you and change your perspective towards our cold blooded friends. Remember that knowledge is the only sword that can take down fear, myths and superstitions.