The Legend of Nagas

Sham S. Misri
 (From Rajatarangini)

The Nagas had been directed to live in the lakes in Kashmir by Lord Vishnu. To avoid contact with people they preferred to live in their underwater kingdoms. They lived on fresh grain that they carried off, disguised as storms and rains.

A tale of a Brahmin Vishakha, who was drawn into the Naga world, is as follows.

One day in Narapura, Vishakha, who was resting near a pond and eating his porridge, saw two beautiful maidens step forth from a groove of creepers. To his surprise, they started eating the pods of the Kacchagaccha grass that grew in that meadow.

Overwhelmed by pity, Vishakha approached them. “Please eat this porridge,” he said, offering it to them.

They accepted it eagerly and while they ate, he fetched them some water to drink.

Vishakha could contain his curiosity no longer. “Who are you, and why are you reduced to eating this tasteless grass?” he asked.

“We are the daughters of the Naga Sushravas who dwells in this pond,” answered one.

“I am Iravati and this is my younger sister, Chandralekha. We have nothing pleasant to eat, so why should we not eat this grass?”

“What is the cause of your poverty?” asked Vishakha.

“Our father will tell you,” said Iravati.

“You can meet him during the festival of Takshanaka naga pilgrimage. He has a hair tuft dripping with water and we will be with him.”

The maidens then disappeared and Vishakha awaited the festival with impatience.

On the appointed day, he searched the crowds and spectators and spotted the naga Sushravas.

The naga greeted him. “My daughters have told me about you,” he said.

“I want to know the cause of your misfortune,” said Vishakha. “If it is my power to help, I would gladly do so.”

The naga smiled. “I should not make a secret of this matter, since my daughters have drawn you into it. Do you see the ascetic who is seated at the foot of the tree?”

Vishakha nodded and the naga continued. “He guards the fields yonder and he does not permit himself or anyone to touch the fresh crop. Unless he eats it, we cannot eat. Can you break the ascetic’s vow?”

“I will try my best,” promised Vishakha and went away. Vishakha was thinking of ways to outwit the field guard.

The following day the ascetic was in his hut. Vishakha crept up and dropped some fresh corn into the food that was cooking outside in a dish. He then returned and watched from a distance. The ascetic emerged after a while, and removing the dish from the fire began to eat the food. As soon as he had done so, the naga Sushravas carried off the rich harvest disguised as rain. (The nagas were supposed to take the form of hailstorms to obtain food.)

The next day, as Vishakha wandered near the pond, the naga rose from its depths. “You have freed us from misery.” he said.  “Allow us to honour you in our place.”

So Vishakha spent a few days in underwater kingdom of nagas.

The two maidens worked hard to make his stay comfortable.

One day Vishakha approached the naga. “You have given me great pleasure,” he said.” But I desire to return to my land now. Please give me leave to do so.”

The naga permitted and said,” Is there anything else you desire?”

“I want to marry Chandralekha, your younger daughter,” said Vishakha.

The naga hesitated. “You are not allowed to do this alliance, “he said.”Yet we owe you much and I cannot refuse you. Chandralekha is yours.”

The marriage of Chandralekha and Vishakha took place. After marriage, the couple left for Narapura. They had the blessings of the Nagas. They lived happily.

One day, king Nara’s soldiers passed by and caught sight of the beautiful Chandralekha. When they reported this thing to the king, he declared,”such beauty should belong to me and not to a mere Brahmin.”

Not long after, a horse strayed in the courtyard of Vishakha’s house and began eating rice that was drying in the sun.

Chandralekha ran up and slapped the horse. As it ran away, the golden imprint of Chandrasekhar’s hand appeared on its body.

The king’s spies brought the horse before the king.

The king gazed at the golden mark. “Such beautiful fingers!” he cried.

“Such a perfect hand! I must have Chandralekha. Go and bring her to me.”

Thus Vishakha was approached by the king’s men. “Our king wants your wife,” they said.

“We have come to take her.”

“I will not give her,” said Vishakha.

“Tell the king she is mine.”

When the king heard the reply from Vishakha, he boomed with anger.

“I will go there myself and take her away.”

That night he visited Chandralekha and Vishakha.

“Vishakha, I desire your beautiful wife,” he said. Give her to me and I will make you a very wealthy man.”

“I will not part with Chandralekha for mere riches, “replied Vishakha.

Sir it is your duty to protect your subjects, not harass them.”

“You fool”, shouted the king. “You will regret this.”

He left in rage, and Chandralekha trembled with fear.

“What shall we do?” Chandralekha cried.

“Do not worry. Vishakha embraced her. I will never allow them take you.

After some time the couple was rudely awakened by the cries of soldiers.

“They have come to take you away,” whispered Vishakha. “Come, we will leave by the back door.”

They came out of the house, into the dense bushes and ran till they reached the  pond.

They jumped in and entered his kingdom. When the naga saw the harassed couple, he was furious. His appearance caused to form dense clouds in the early morning sky, plunging the land into darkness. He rained fearful thunderbolts on the town to burn it and its king Nara.

The screams of the people rent the air as they tried to escape the leaping flames. The River Vitasta was soon swollen with the bodies of the burnt men and animals.

“Let us move away from this place,” said Naga Sushravas to Vishakha.

“We will find a new home”.

The Lake that he created as his new home on a far off mountain is there to this day. So is a lake nearby, the Jamtrisaras, (son in law’s), where Vishakha, who became a naga by Sushravas favour, resided.

As for the king, he was destroyed with his people for daring to trifle with naga’s daughter.