Some scriptures contain the word kala sarpa
. It is treated as an inauspicious thing.
What exactly is kala sarpa?
Some scriptures contain the word kala sarpa
. It is treated as an inauspicious thing.
What exactly is kala sarpa?
Kāla-sarpa literally translates as the 'serpent of time' or 'serpent of death'.
And Time, Death and its Lordship is most commonly associated with - Yamarāja.
One may ask references for the above assertion.
Chapter 138, Agni Purāṇa
यमोऽसि यमाराजोऽसि कालरूपोऽसि धर्मराट् ।
- You are Yama (god of death). You are the sovereign over the dead (Yamarāja). You are of the form of time. You are the reign of righteousness.
English Translation by N. Gangadharan
Two references for 'Kāla-sarpa' from the Skanda Purāṇa are:-
Chapter 67 - Uttarārdha - Kāśī-khaṇḍa
शंखचूडेश्वरश्चैष शंखचूडप्रतिष्ठितः ।
यस्य संदर्शनात्पुंसां न भयं कालसर्पजम् ॥ ६९ ॥
- This is Śaṅkhacūḍeśvara installed by Śaṅkhacūḍa. The visit to this Lord removes the fear arising from Kālasarpa (Black Serpent, i.e. god of Death).
Chapter 100 - Uttarārdha - Kāśī-khaṇḍa
निराशाः पितरस्तस्य तस्मिन्नेव दिनेऽभवन् ।
स दष्टः कालसर्पेण स दृष्टो मृत्युना स्फुटम् ॥ ३ ॥
स मुष्टस्तत्र दिवसे विश्वेशो यत्र नेक्षितः ।
- ... The Pitṛs become disappointed on the very same day. He is indeed bitten by the serpent of Kāla - Kāla-sarpa (death, time). He is seen by death to be sure....
English Translation by G.V. Tagare
So, Kāla-sarpa is an allusion to:
or