Vedic Mythology c7.s6.4

c7.s6.4

In the later Saṃhitās the serpents (*sarpāḥ*) are found as a class of semi-divine beings beside the Gandharvas and others. They are spoken of as being in earth, air, and heaven (VS. 13, 6; cp. TB. 3, 1, 1⁷). They are often mentioned in the AV.¹⁶, one hymn of which (11, 9) is sometimes interpreted as an invocation of certain serpent divinities⁷. In the Sūtras offerings to the serpents of earth, air, and heaven (AGS. 2, 1⁹; PGS. 2, 14⁹) are prescribed; serpents are satiated along with gods, plants, demons, &c. (ŚGS. 4, 9³. 15⁴; AGS. 3, 4¹), and blood is poured out for them (AGS. 4, 8²⁷). In this worship the serpent, owing to its hurtfulness, is naturally regarded as having a demoniac nature, which has to be propitiated. In a similar sense offerings are sometimes made to ants (KS. 116).