Who is Who in Hindu Mythology - VOL 2 by Surya N. Maruvada

Author:Surya N. Maruvada
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781648056864
Publisher: Notion Press

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Taksha I – Son of Lord Rāma’s younger brother, Bharata. Bharata killed the sons of a Gandharva* and made Taksha the ruler of their realm. His capital city was named Takshaṣila (literally, Taksha’s rock. Reputed to be the site of a prominent ancient University in what is now Afghanistan). Rāmāyaṇa

Taksha II – Son of the Asura* Vṛtra. Bhāgavata

Takshaka – Son of Kadruva. A Nāga*. Once, while carrying the earrings Udanka obtained from Queen Paushya, he put them on the shore of a lake and was performing his morning ablutions. Takshaka went there as a naked human, and after stealing the earrings, assumed his real serpent form and reached Nāga Lōka. Udanka chased him into Nāga Lōka and proceeded to cause destructive havoc. Takshaka was terrified and brought the earrings he stole and returned them to Udanka. It was to avenge Takshaka’s crime that Udanka encouraged Emperor Janamējaya (Arjuna’s great-grandson) to perform a Sarpa Yāga (serpent sacrifice).

A Muni named Ṣṛngi had given Parīkshit (grandson of Arjuna) a Ṣāpa* that he would die from Takshaka’s venom. Takshaka disguised himself as a Brahmin, and accompanied by other Nāga youth also disguised as Brahmins, was on his way to the special palace Parīkshit had built for himself (supposed to be inaccessible to Takshaka). On the way, he saw another Brahmin and asked him, “Who are you? Where are you going?” The Brahmin said “My name is Kaṣyapa, I know how to save people bitten by snakes. I have heard that Takshaka was going to bite Emperor Parīkshit today. I hope to save him and earn a handsome reward”. Takshaka said, “I am Takshaka. Who can revive someone bitten by me? Why exert yourself unnecessarily? Go back home.” An argument ensued and Takshaka said, “I will burn this tree with my venom. Revive it if you can.” So saying, he bit a nearby tree. The tree and all living things on it burned to ashes. Kaṣyapa used his skills and turned the ashes back into the tree as it had been and also revived all the creatures that lived on it. Concerned that this Brahmin will defeat his purpose, Takshaka gave the Brahmin as much money as he wanted and persuaded him to go back. Then Takshaka turned himself into a very small shape and entered one of the lemons his companions were bringing to the palace. The fake Brahmins gained entry to Parīkshit’s palace and as the emperor was smelling the lemons presented to him by the fake Brahmins, Takshaka emerged from one of the lemons and bit him.

When other serpents were being thrown into the fire during Emperor Janamējaya’s Sarpa Yāga, Takshaka tried to escape death by coiling himself around Indra’s* throne. As he was falling to earth due to the spiritual power of the Mantras of the Brahmins, he encountered Āstīka. Āstīka informed him that he was able to persuade Janamējaya to stop the Yāga and that the danger had passed. Takshaka then went home. Mahā Bhārata

Tāḷajangha – Grandson of Kārtavīrya.

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