Naga

Nagas are the part-human, part snakes who reside in Naga-Loka.

#### Their enmity with birds and their King

Vinata and Kadru were sisters, and two of the wives of Sage Kashyapa, who was known to be the father of all living things. Kashyapa blessed Kadru with a thousand eggs, which would hatch with a thousand very powerful sons. And, as per Vinata's request, he blessed her with two eggs who would hatch with sons more powerful than Kadru's. Kadru's eggs hatched, which contained the first nagas. Vinata waited desperately for her eggs to hatch, but there was no success. One day, the sisters were by the lakeside, and they saw Uchchaishravas, the vahana of Indra racing across the sky. It was twilight, and, Vinata exclaimed, "Look at that pure white horse!" Kadru argued that the horse had a black tail, and then, they made a bet: The loser would be a slave for the winner. That night, Kadru called her sons, and told them about the bet. The nagas instantly told her that she was wrong. Feeling humiliated that she was going to be a slave to Vinata, she hatched a plot, that only a few of her sons agreed to. They would wrap themselves around the vahana's tail, and, in the distance, it would look black, and Vinata would lose. The next day, Vinata saw that she was wrong, and became Kadru's slave. Kadru told her sister, "One of your sons can bargain for your freedom." After a few years, Vinata broke open one of the eggs, and saw that it contained a beautiful baby boy-but without legs. The boy chastised his mother for her carelessness, and took off to the heavens, where he became Aruna, Surya's charioteer. Then, one day, the egg hatched, and out emerged a muscular man with wings, and a beak for a mouth. He told his enslaved mother that he was Garuda, and that he would free her. Kadru requested that Garuda get her and her sons the *amrita,* or, the nectar of immortality. After a duel with Lord Vishnu, Indra told the boy that he could not give mortals the amrita. Garuda hatched a plot. He told his half-brothers and step mother that the could have the amrita, but first they should freshen up. While they were bathing, Garuda took off with the amrita, while scattering a few drops on the dry blades of grass. When the nagas came, they were furious that they had been duped, and, cut their tongues on the blades of grass while trying to lick up whatever nectar which was remaining. This gave them their famous forked tongues, and a burning hatred for birds.

#### In the Mahabharata

During the war, the nagas play a minor role. There was a naga king, Takshaka, whose home was destroyed in the burning of the Khandava forest, when the Pandavas burnt it down to build their capital city, Indraprastha. For this, Takshaka swore revenge on the Pandavas and all their descendants.

After the building of Indraprastha, Arjuna went on a year-long exile, since he had disturbed Yudhishthira and Draupadi when they were dining-in violation of the oath all five brothers swore on their wedding day-that if a brother was with Draupadi, the two of them must not be interrupted.

During his exile, Arjuna crossed many lands, and met Uloopi, the naga princess. The two of them got married, and, after the fulfillment of being cursed that he must die by his son's hand, Uloopi resurrected Arjuna with a special jewel.

#### The Sacrificial Yagna

Many years later, when Arjuna's grandson, King Parikshit on the throne, he insulted a sage. The sage's disciple was enraged, and he cursed Parikshit to die of snakebite within 7 days. Terrified, the king built a tall tower, and stationed guards everywhere. For six days, everything was fine, but on the last day, a well-wisher sent the king a basket of fruit.

He bit into an apple in the basket, and a worm wriggled out. The worm grew into a writhing snake with long fangs and murderous eyes-it was Takshaka. He bit the king, and Parikshit died. Janmajeya, Parikshit's son and the new king performed a yagna to destroy all the snakes in the world, to avenge his father. All the snakes were drawn to the sacrificial fire, and were being burnt alive. Even Takshaka couldn't resist it, and, just as he was about to die, a young man emerged from the crowd. He made the king give him a wish, and after succeeding, asked him to stop the yagna, after revealing he was Astik, a half-naga and half-rishi. He explained that the revenge cycle between the Kuru clan and the nagas would destroy both of them, and, seeing sense, he stopped the yagna.

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the End of Time

Aru and Mini, while waiting in line in the Night Bazaar, overheard a conversation between a naga couple about the vahanas. Earlier, when the Bazaar had been disguised as a Costco, a naga boy winked at Mini, who, in response, walked into a pole. The boy turned out to be Rudy, a naga prince.

### Aru Shah and the Song of Death

In this novel, we see Uloopi, the nagini queen gone bitter after years of hatred festering for Arjuna and his reincarnations. We also see Takshaka, a naga who swore revenge on the Pandavas. Takshaka was a traitor, and, after being arrested for treason, escaped from his guards.

### Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

Rudy, a naga prince, was officially introduced as Aiden's cousin. He tagged along on their quest to find the real Kalpavriksha.

## The Star-Touched Queen Duology

### A Crown of Wishes

In Alaka, there are many nagas participating in the Tournament, and, in search for a way out of the golden city, Vikram and Gauri face off the legendary Serpent King.

### Death and Night

In this novella about the love story of Death and Night, Uloopi is featured as one of the best friends of Night, and her main customer.

## Notable Nagas

* Uloopi
* Takshaka
* Surasa
* Rudy

Uloopi was the queen of the nagas, and a wife of Arjuna, and a member of the Council. She resurrected him after he was cursed to die by his son's hand.

Takshaka was a tribal naga king, whose wife died in the fire of the Khandava Forest. He hates the Pandavas, and swore that their clan would be destroyed.

She is commonly known as the "mother of the Nagas" and is on the Council too.

Rudy is the prince of Naga-Loka, and is a part of the Potatoes.