Vasuki
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Vasuki is a naga, or one of the serpents of Hindu mythology. He is also the king of the nagas and has a gem (Nagamani) on his head. Manasa, another naga is his sister.
Vasuki was also the name of the devout wife of the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar.
Legends of Vasuki
The most famous legend in Hinduism that Vasuki takes part in was when the incident churning the ocean of milk. He agreed to allow the devas (gods) and the asuras (demons) use him as the churning rope, bound with Mount Meru when they churned the ocean of milk for the ambrosia of immortality. While Vasuki was being used as a rope, he was feeling a lot of strain and pain. This strain caused him to exhale Alahala, the most potent venom in the universe. There was the danger that the Alahala could destroy all living beings and perhaps the universe itself. Then Shiva, in order to prevent the destruction of the cosmos, decided to swallow the poison himself. However, instead of swallowing the poison completely he left it in his throat, turning his throat blue and earning him the title Nilakanta (blue-throated).
Vasuki is also mentioned and used as a tightening rope in other Hindu scriptures, such as in each of the Itihasas (Ramayana and Mahabharata).
See also
References
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna L. Dallapiccola
- [Indian Mythology, by ApamNapat]
- [Nagas]
- [Stories from the Ramayana]
- redirect
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