The Truth of Nagmani

For centuries it is believed that when a Nag preserves its venom for (usually an Indian Spectacled Cobra) 100 years, an extremely valuable and rare gem forms inside or on its head which gives the snake supernatural powers.

But is it really true? Does anything like Nagmani even exists? If yes, then what does it look like? And has anyone ever found a snake with Nagmani?

According to a scientific research and wildlife experts there is no such thing as Nagmani. It is believed that these precious gems are formed on the head of a Nag after it preserves its venom for 100 years but biologically they can only live upto 15 to 20 years and they cannot preserve their venom for that long. Venom is basically a complex and modified saliva which not only acts as a defense mechanism or to kill its prey but also 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 digest its food. It is also believed that these gems are a boon from the gods themselves which helps the snakes to hunt at night using the bright light emitting from the Nagmani and to hypnotize their prey and predator.

Instead, 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.

Only the myth that something as Nagmani exists has become a game for the snake charmers. 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. Before putting it in the snake it is cut into an oval shape and polished. In 2015, a man was caught selling such Nagmani in Tamil Nadu for Rs 1000 crores. Stones like these are sold for lakhs and crores of rupees.

We need to come forward to educate people and to prevent them from falling for such traps. Snakes are beautiful and one of the most fascinating creature. They deserve our utmost respect. We shouldn’t just respect them for these valuable stones or because they are connected to our mythological stories but because they are unique among themselves and have an important role in our environment. Blindly following such rumours has posed a severe threat for them. Let’s come together to conserve and protect these beautiful creatures.