SNAKES a source of strength, courage, wisdom and virility

Andrew Scott

Some others admire snakes and adore and worship them as God’s representatives and even today many people in Sri Lanka and India consider the cobra as a national heritage and a symbol of culture and religions. Particularly the villagers of Sri Lanka avoid killing snakes even if they encounter them in their homes and from the ancient times they have protected them with respect and honour.

The very interesting feature article ‘Snakes and Charms’ (Daily News, January 22) should have drawn the attention of readers interested in and appreciative of snakes, a word whose very mention brings fright and awe to the minds of many people who always think that all snakes, whether poisonous or otherwise are mere harbingers of death and disaster, fright and awe. It is timely that we created a renewed interest among us about this slimy and feared reptile of the jungles and it is also beneficial for us to think about the manifold service of snakes to mankind through the ages. Contrary to negative and obnoxious ideas about snakes of various skin colourations, lengths and other physical features it must be remembered that this ever doomed and cursed slithering creature whose mere sight palpitates our heart throbs also bestows many benefits to man.

Serving mankind

Snakes are crawling creatures that fascinate and repel human beings throughout the world particularly in the tropical and African regions where they are still found in abundance in the wild and semi-wild states. It is well-known that any encounter with a snake, whether harmless or otherwise, fills anyone with terror and awe particularly because if venomous its sting or bite is surely fatal and once it enters the blood stream of man very often the victim dies.

Meanwhile some snakes particularly the mighty cobra which is dreaded throughout the world is highly respected specially in the Asian countries such as India and Sri Lanka and it has been even elevated to the status of a god in certain religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism which have a large stock of lore about this reptile and from time immemorial Asian religious lore has it that the cobra has been a protective animal of gods throughout the ages.

While a majority of snakes are said to be poisonous some of them are absolutely harmless. It is said that immediately after stinging a victim a snake gets intoxicated, lifeless and faints and comes back to life a few minutes later! In the ancient world the snake was an honoured symbol of medicine and even the Hippocratic Oath displays two snakes.

The earliest snake charmers were traditional healers and they treated snake bite victims and their expertise was much sought after to flush out snakes from human abodes whenever they became a nuisance to human settlements. Snake lore in many countries inform us that these creepy reptiles who have been living alongside man throughout the ages also have a long life. In this context it is useful to discuss the manifold ways in which this dreaded class of animals are serving mankind throughout the world.

Specially in Asia man is always poised to think about the destructive force of snakes and it is very seldom that we care to think about the important role they play in relation to man’s welfare, either directly or indirectly.

It is important that we should understand snakes as an integral facet of mother nature leaving aside the fear and mysticism we generally attach to them.

Civilised people and those with a highly developed aesthetic sense are impressed by their beauty and graceful movements and poets have written about them. Even to the ancient Greeks the serpent represented wisdom and longevity.

Snake skins

The greatest benefit that snakes confer on man is the control of rodents such as rats which all kinds of snakes relish to swallow. From the dim historic times rodents have been one of man’s greatest enemies as they are carriers of deadly diseases and are great raiders of food stores. Throughout the ages snakes have been very effective controllers of rodents more then any other single natural agency.

Throughout the centuries reptile leathers have been both ornamental and durable and all kinds of snakes have provided their quota of reptile skins. Specially the skins of sea snakes have been highly fancied in this sphere.

Specially in the Western countries fashionable women loved to possess snake-skin shoes, purses and handbags made of cured snake skins showing variegated designs.

Thus for a long time utility items made of snake skins formed an important part in fashion circles. Even today snake skins are used for making scarfs, belts, shoes, handbags, wallets, purses, cases and a host of other items including sports jackets. It is mentioned that in certain parts of the world such as Brazil even expensive books are bound in snake skins!

God’s representatives

In neighbouring India snake venom is used in the manufacture of antivenin and the therapeutic uses of cobra venom is known throughout the world. While we in Sri Lanka are agitated even at the mere sight of a snake people in some other countries believe that its flesh is both nourishing and appetizing.

As such in certain countries snakes are of much appeal as an article of diet. For instance pythons are a welcome addition to the diet in some parts of Asia and Africa. It is said that the people of tropical America accept boas as a rich article of food. As much as the skins of sea snakes are a rich raw material for the production of ornamental items their flesh is a popular food in Japan. In some other countries snakes figure as a dietary delicacy for special occasions.

Wealthy Chinese hold a feast with snakes as one of the most important and cherished dishes. In many countries snake flesh is sold as a highly priced novelty food for social occasions.

Certain varieties of snake venom are used in modern pharmacology.

Derivatives of snakes have been in use from time immemorial as effective sources of strength, courage, wisdom and virility, which are believed to reside in certain organs of the snakes.

Primitive people carried snake organs in amulets and by doing so they believed that they were able to produce miraculous results. Snakes have always provided material for witchcraft and specially brews of medieval medicine used material derived from snakes. In some countries snake oils of all kinds have been a popular unguent for athletes and for various human afflictions. Writers of sensational fiction have often used snakes in their stories either as guardians of secret places or as weapons or retribution or murder. In early warfare live snakes which were thrown onto the enemies were used for large scale man slaughter.

The death dealing activities of snakes have thrown them aside as possessors of supernatural powers and some people believe them to be the incarnations of evil spirits. Some others admire snakes and adore and worship them as God’s representatives and even today many people in Sri Lanka and India consider the cobra as a national heritage and a symbol of culture and religions. Particularly the villagers of Sri Lanka avoid killing snakes even if they encounter them in their homes and from the ancient times they have protected them with respect and honour. All these facts show that snakes are also beneficial to mankind in several ways and what is really lacking is a proper understanding of this ever dreaded creature found throughout the country. So the next time you encounter a snake try not to destroy it.