7. Serpent worship

British-India did have a similar issue. However, this was with regard to real poisonous snakes. There were many locations inside the subcontinent wherein serpents were worshipped as divinities, propitiation of which could give benevolent results. I do not want to give any feeling that I find these kinds of attitude foolish. For, one can mention anything with certainty only if one is actually aware of such things as the Codes of reality, and the software codes of life. Interested readers are requested to read my book: Software codes of mantra, tantra, witchcraft, black magic, evil eye, evil tongue &c.

In Travancore kingdom in the southern most end of the South Asian subcontinent, serpents were worshipped. Usually it is the cobra which is worshipped, even though the term Naga might or might not represent the divine serpent. In many medium level higher caste households, a plot of land is kept apart for worshiping them. In some houses, cobra families used to live.

REV. SAMUEL MATEER mentions them as quite dangerous, even though he says thus also: Quote: In parts of the country where these dangerous reptiles are regarded with most veneration, it is possible that the danger to human life arising from the great abundance of snakes is slightly diminished by the comparative tameness of the creatures, though of course this would not lessen the risk from inadvertently treading on them in the dark, or turning over them in sleep, and thus forcing them to bite. Serpents, happily, do not chase men, or seek to attack them, but rather try to escape; they only bite when trodden upon or driven to bay. End of Quote

In many property documents of Travancore, residential rights of the cobra family residing inside the house were written down in very clear and unambiguous words.

Yet, the British officials in the next door British-India had the perspective that all poisonous snakes in general were dangerous to the human beings. They took expedient steps to exterminate them.

See these words of REV. SAMUEL MATEER in NATIVE LIFE IN TRAVANCORE: Quote: The contrast between British India and Travancore as regards the offer of rewards for the destruction of venomous serpents is very marked, and is often referred to by those who take an interest in the subject. In a little corner of the territory, Tangacherry, which belongs to the British, two annas are paid per head; and in the Cantonment of Quilon, considerate British officers frequently offer rewards and take a great interest in the protection of the lives of their people; while in Travancore nothing of this kind is ever done. The missionaries endeavour to help in a good cause by offering small rewards, but, from the scanty means at their disposal, their efforts are scarcely worth mentioning in view of the importance of the whole subject. End of Quote

It may be mentioned in passing that the native populations of Africa and the Boers had the same kind of policy, which the British-Indian government had towards the serpents, towards the Bushmen.