Vāsuki

Vāsuki is one of the nāga kings in Hindu mythology who rules over Pātāla. Unknown. (1972). "Vāsuki", in Leach, M. (ed) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. 3rd ed. pp.1155
== Myths ==
During the Churning of the Ocean, Vāsuki was the serpent who was twisted as a rope around Mount Mandara. 
Vāsuki made a deal with Garuda when he was slaughtering the nāgas, whereby Vāsuki would send a single nāga each day to the shore of the southern sea for Garuda to eat, and Garuda would only eat that single nāga each day. 
In a local legend of the Punjab, Vāsuki was stricken with leprosy, so his daughter went to fetch the amrita to cure him. She rubbed it all over him, but didn't have enough for his thumb, meaning the leprosy was still present there. She went to get more amrita, but was kidnapped by one of the Pāṇḑavas on the way and forced to marry him. Vāsuki's leprous thumb is supposedly why there have historically been many outbreaks of leprosy in the region. 
== See Also ==
* Śesha 
== References ==
Category:Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend
Category:Nagas