Vasuki - Revision history

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	{{Infobox deity <!--~~Wikipedia~~:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->		{{Infobox deity <!--Bharatpedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
	\| type = Hindu		\| type = Hindu
	\| image = [[File:Shiva 01.JPG\|230px]]		\| image = [[File:Shiva 01.JPG\|230px]]
	\| caption = Vasuki depicted around the neck of Shiva in Karnataka.		\| caption = Vasuki depicted around the neck of Shiva in Karnataka.
	\| name = Vasuki		\| name = Vasuki
	\| affiliation = [[Nāga\|Naga]]		\| affiliation = [[Shaivism]], [[Nāga\|Naga]]
	\| abode = [[Kailasha]]		\| abode = [[Kailasha]]
	\| weapon =		\| weapon =
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	{{use Indian English\|date=February 2016}}		{{use Indian English\|date=February 2016}}

	'''Vasuki''' ({{~~Lang-~~sa\|वासुकि\|translit=Vāsuki}}) is the ~~second~~ [[Nagaraja\|king of the nagas]] in [[Hindu religion\|Hinduism]]. He is described as having a gem called ''Nagamani'' (serpent's ornament) on his head. [[Shesha]], ~~the first~~ king of the [[Nāga\|nagas]] and the bed on which [[Vishnu]] rests, is his elder brother,<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Jones \|first1=Constance \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC&dq=vasuki+Adishesha&pg=PA300 \|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism \|last2=Ryan \|first2=James D. \|date=2006 \|publisher=Infobase Publishing \|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5 \|language=en}}</ref> and [[Manasa]], another naga, is his sister. In [[Hindu iconography]], he is generally depicted coiling around the neck of [[Shiva]], who is believed to have blessed and worn him as an [[Ornament (art)\|ornament]].		'''Vasuki''' ({{Langx\|sa\|वासुकि\|translit=Vāsuki}}) is the [[Nagaraja\|king of the nagas]] in [[Hindu religion\|Hinduism]]. He is described as having a gem called ''[[Nagamani]]'' (serpent's ornament) on his head. [[Shesha]], another king of the [[Nāga\|nagas]] and the bed on which [[Vishnu]] rests, is his elder brother,<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Jones \|first1=Constance \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC&dq=vasuki+Adishesha&pg=PA300 \|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism \|last2=Ryan \|first2=James D. \|date=2006 \|publisher=Infobase Publishing \|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5 \|language=en}}</ref> and [[Manasa]], another naga, is his sister. In [[Hindu iconography]], he is generally depicted coiling around the neck of [[Shiva]], who is believed to have blessed and worn him as an [[Ornament (art)\|ornament]].

	He is known in Chinese and Japanese mythology as being one of the "eight Great Dragon Kings" (八大龍王 [[pinyin]]: Bādà lóngwáng; [[Japanese language\|Japanese]]: Hachidai Ryūō),<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Eight_great_dragon_kings\|title=Eight great dragon kings - Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia}}</ref> amongst Nanda (Nāgarāja), Upananda, Sāgara (Shakara), [[Takshaka]], Balavan, Anavatapta, and Utpala.		He is known in Chinese and Japanese mythology as being one of the "eight Great Dragon Kings" (八大龍王 [[pinyin]]: Bādà lóngwáng; [[Japanese language\|Japanese]]: Hachidai Ryūō),<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Eight_great_dragon_kings\|title=Eight great dragon kings - Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia}}</ref> amongst Nanda (Nāgarāja), Upananda, Sāgara (Shakara), [[Takshaka]], Balavan, Anavatapta, and Utpala.
	~~{{Saivism}}~~
	==Legend==		==Legend==
	Vasuki is one of the sons of the sage [[Kashyapa]] and [[Kadru]].<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Dikshitar \|first=V. R. Ramachandra \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7bFwZhfSOsC&pg=PA218 \|title=The Puraṇa Index: From A to Ṇ \|date=1995 \|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass ~~Publishe~~ \|isbn=978-81-208-1273-4 \|pages=218 \|language=en}}</ref>~~[[File:Samudra-Manthan-The-Churning-of-the-Ocean-of-Milk.jpg\|thumb\|The asuras (left) and devas (right) use Vasuki to churn the Ocean of Milk.\|320x320px]]~~		Vasuki is one of the sons of the sage [[Kashyapa]] and [[Kadru]].<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Dikshitar \|first=V. R. Ramachandra \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7bFwZhfSOsC&pg=PA218 \|title=The Puraṇa Index: From A to Ṇ \|date=1995 \|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers \|isbn=978-81-208-1273-4 \|pages=218 \|language=en}}</ref>

	He is accorded a significant role in the legend of [[Samudra manthan\|Samudra Manthana]]. He is described to have allowed both the [[deva (Hinduism)\|deva]]s and the [[asura]]s to bind him to [[Mount Mandara]], so that they could use him as their churning rope to extract the [[amrita]] from the [[Kshira Sagara\|Ocean of Milk]].<ref>{{cite book\|last=Jones\|first=Constance\|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism\|year=2007\|publisher=Infobase Publishing\|location=New York\|isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9\|page=300}}</ref>		He is accorded a significant role in the legend of [[Samudra manthan\|Samudra Manthana]]. He is described to have allowed both the [[deva (Hinduism)\|deva]]s and the [[asura]]s to bind him to [[Mount Mandara]], so that they could use him as their churning rope to extract the [[amrita]] from the [[Kshira Sagara\|Ocean of Milk]].<ref>{{cite book\|last=Jones\|first=Constance\|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism\|year=2007\|publisher=Infobase Publishing\|location=New York\|isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9\|page=300}}</ref>[[File:Kurma, the tortoise incarnation of Vishnu.jpg\|thumb\|''Vasuki being used to churn the ocean during Samudra Manthana'' \|320x320px]]In the [[Mahabharata]], Vasuki is stated to have been cursed by Kadru. He refused to aid her in her scheme of hanging to the tail of the divine horse [[Uchchaihshravas\|Ucchaishshravas]] with his other siblings to cause it to appear black, so that she could cheat in her wager against her sister [[Vinata]]. Condemned to burn with numerous brothers in King [[Janamejaya]]'s [[Sarpa Satra\|snake sacrifice]], he sought refuge with the devas, participating in the churning of the ocean.<ref>{{Cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pPVJCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA115 \|title=The Mahabharata, Volume 1: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning \|date=2011-05-04 \|publisher=University of Chicago Press \|isbn=978-0-226-21754-3 \|pages=115 \|language=en}}</ref>

	In the [[Mahabharata]], Vasuki is stated to have been cursed by Kadru. He refused to aid her in her scheme of hanging to the tail of the divine horse [[Uchchaihshravas\|Ucchaishshravas]] with his other siblings to cause it to appear black, so that she could cheat in her wager against her sister [[Vinata]]. Condemned to burn with numerous brothers in King [[Janamejaya]]'s [[Sarpa Satra\|snake sacrifice]], he sought refuge with the devas, participating in the churning of the ocean.<ref>{{Cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pPVJCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA115 \|title=The Mahabharata, Volume 1: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning \|date=2011-05-04 \|publisher=University of Chicago Press \|isbn=978-0-226-21754-3 \|pages=115 \|language=en}}</ref>		Having retreated to the [[Patala\|netherworld]], but wishing to save his brothers from the snake sacrifice, Vasuki sought the counsel of his siblings. One of them, Elapatra, stated that he had overheard [[Brahma]] informing the other deities that the son born to their sister named [[Manasa\|Jaratkaru]] and a [[Jaratkaru\|sage]] who shared the same name would be their saviour. Vasuki made the arrangements to marry his sister to the sage. The son born to them, [[Astika (sage)\|Astika]], was able to successfully put an end to Janamejaya's persecution of the nagas.<ref>{{Cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkUQYvw2HGkC&pg=PA38 \|title=Vyasa's Mahabharatam \|date=2008 \|publisher=Academic Publishers \|isbn=978-81-89781-68-2 \|pages=38 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Having retreated to the [[Patala\|netherworld]], but wishing to save his brothers from the snake sacrifice, Vasuki sought the counsel of his siblings. One of them, Elapatra, stated that he had overheard [[Brahma]] informing the other deities that the son born to their sister named [[Manasa\|Jaratkaru]] and a [[Jaratkaru\|sage]] who shared the same name would be their saviour. Vasuki made the arrangements to marry his sister to the sage. The son born to them, [[Astika (sage)\|Astika]], was able to successfully put an end to Janamejaya's persecution of the nagas.<ref>{{Cite book \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkUQYvw2HGkC&pg=PA38 \|title=Vyasa's Mahabharatam \|date=2008 \|publisher=Academic Publishers \|isbn=978-81-89781-68-2 \|pages=38 \|language=en}}</ref>~~[[File:Kurma, the tortoise incarnation of Vishnu.jpg\|thumb\|''Vasuki being used to churn the ocean during Samudra Manthana'' \|320x320px]]~~
	== Buddhism ==		== Buddhism ==
	In the [[Buddhist religion]], Vasuki and the other Naga Kings appear in the audience for many of [[~~Gautama~~ Buddha]]'s sermons. The duties of the naga Kings included leading the [[nāgas\|nagas]] in protecting and worshipping the [[Buddha]], as well as protecting other enlightened beings. Vasuki's naga priest is Tatig Naga.{{citation needed\|date=November 2022}}		In the [[Buddhist religion]], Vasuki and the other Naga Kings appear in the audience for many of [[Buddha]]'s sermons. The duties of the naga Kings included leading the [[nāgas\|nagas]] in protecting and worshipping the [[Buddha]], as well as protecting other enlightened beings. Vasuki's naga priest is Tatig Naga.{{citation needed\|date=November 2022}}

	==Veneration==		==Veneration==
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	==See also==		==See also==
			{{Commonscat\|Vāsuki}}
	*[[Snake worship]]		*[[Snake worship]]
	*[[Manasa]]		*[[Manasa]]
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	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}
	~~[[Category:Nāgas]]~~

	{{HinduMythology}}		{{HinduMythology}}

			[[Category:Nāgas]]

	{{authority control}}		{{authority control}}

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-30T03:57:02Z

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{{Infobox deity 
| type = Hindu
| image = [[File:Shiva 01.JPG|230px]]
| caption = Vasuki depicted around the neck of Shiva in Karnataka.
| name = Vasuki
| affiliation = [[Nāga|Naga]]
| abode = [[Kailasha]]
| weapon =
| consort = Shatashirsha<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m05/m05117.htm|title = The Mahabharata, Book 5: Udyoga Parva: Bhagwat Yana Parva: Section CXVII}}</ref>
| mount =
| deity_of = King of the Serpents{{Sfn|Handa|2004|p=91}}
| parents = [[Kadru]] (mother), [[Kashyapa]] (father)
| siblings = [[Manasa]], [[Shesha]]
| symbols = [[Nagamani]]
| venerated_in = [[Shaivism]]
}}
{{short description|Divine serpent in Hindu mythology}}
{{other uses}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}

'''Vasuki''' ({{Lang-sa|वासुकि|translit=Vāsuki}}) is the second [[Nagaraja|king of the nagas]] in [[Hindu religion|Hinduism]]. He is described as having a gem called ''Nagamani'' (serpent's ornament) on his head. [[Shesha]], the first king of the [[Nāga|nagas]] and the bed on which [[Vishnu]] rests, is his elder brother,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Constance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC&dq=vasuki+Adishesha&pg=PA300 |title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |last2=Ryan |first2=James D. |date=2006 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Manasa]], another naga, is his sister. In [[Hindu iconography]], he is generally depicted coiling around the neck of [[Shiva]], who is believed to have blessed and worn him as an [[Ornament (art)|ornament]].

He is known in Chinese and Japanese mythology as being one of the "eight Great Dragon Kings" (八大龍王 [[pinyin]]: Bādà lóngwáng; [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: Hachidai Ryūō),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Eight_great_dragon_kings|title=Eight great dragon kings - Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia}}</ref> amongst Nanda (Nāgarāja), Upananda, Sāgara (Shakara), [[Takshaka]], Balavan, Anavatapta, and Utpala.
{{Saivism}}
==Legend==
Vasuki is one of the sons of the sage [[Kashyapa]] and [[Kadru]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dikshitar |first=V. R. Ramachandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7bFwZhfSOsC&pg=PA218 |title=The Puraṇa Index: From A to Ṇ |date=1995 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe |isbn=978-81-208-1273-4 |pages=218 |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Samudra-Manthan-The-Churning-of-the-Ocean-of-Milk.jpg|thumb|The asuras (left) and devas (right) use Vasuki to churn the Ocean of Milk.|320x320px]]

He is accorded a significant role in the legend of [[Samudra manthan|Samudra Manthana]]. He is described to have allowed both the [[deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s and the [[asura]]s to bind him to [[Mount Mandara]], so that they could use him as their churning rope to extract the [[amrita]] from the [[Kshira Sagara|Ocean of Milk]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Constance|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|year=2007|publisher=Infobase Publishing|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9|page=300}}</ref>

In the [[Mahabharata]], Vasuki is stated to have been cursed by Kadru. He refused to aid her in her scheme of hanging to the tail of the divine horse [[Uchchaihshravas|Ucchaishshravas]] with his other siblings to cause it to appear black, so that she could cheat in her wager against her sister [[Vinata]]. Condemned to burn with numerous brothers in King [[Janamejaya]]'s [[Sarpa Satra|snake sacrifice]], he sought refuge with the devas, participating in the churning of the ocean.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pPVJCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA115 |title=The Mahabharata, Volume 1: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning |date=2011-05-04 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-21754-3 |pages=115 |language=en}}</ref>

Having retreated to the [[Patala|netherworld]], but wishing to save his brothers from the snake sacrifice, Vasuki sought the counsel of his siblings. One of them, Elapatra, stated that he had overheard [[Brahma]] informing the other deities that the son born to their sister named [[Manasa|Jaratkaru]] and a [[Jaratkaru|sage]] who shared the same name would be their saviour. Vasuki made the arrangements to marry his sister to the sage. The son born to them, [[Astika (sage)|Astika]], was able to successfully put an end to Janamejaya's persecution of the nagas.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkUQYvw2HGkC&pg=PA38 |title=Vyasa's Mahabharatam |date=2008 |publisher=Academic Publishers |isbn=978-81-89781-68-2 |pages=38 |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Kurma, the tortoise incarnation of Vishnu.jpg|thumb|''Vasuki being used to churn the ocean during Samudra Manthana'' |320x320px]]
== Buddhism ==
In the [[Buddhist religion]], Vasuki and the other Naga Kings appear in the audience for many of [[Gautama Buddha]]'s sermons. The duties of the naga Kings included leading the [[nāgas|nagas]] in protecting and worshipping the [[Buddha]], as well as protecting other enlightened beings. Vasuki's naga priest is Tatig Naga.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

==Veneration==
The Vāsuka/Vāsuca temple is located near Haripad, Mannarasala Illom in [[Kerala]] and the Visakha district in Andhra Pradesh. According to the [[Sthala purana|regional legend]] of the Kukke Subramanya temple in Karnataka, the deity [[Kartikeya]] is regarded to have offered protection to Vasuki from the attack of [[Garuda]], the [[Vahana|mount]] of [[Vishnu]].<ref>Social History of Kerala: The Dravidians By L. A. Krishna Iyer p.003</ref>

==See also==

*[[Snake worship]]
*[[Manasa]]
*[[Shesha]]

==Bibliography==
*{{Citation|title=Naga Cults and Traditions in the Western Himalaya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd50t19YpJEC|first=Om Chanda|last=Handa|publisher=Indus Publishing|year=2004|isbn=978-8173871610}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Nāgas]]

{{HinduMythology}}

{{authority control}}