N for Nahusha - Mahabharata Mashup

Namaskar, 

Family trees are taken to a new level in Mahabharata. There are so many characters, so many relations, diversions, additions, and whatnot that it can be overwhelming for most of us. Anyhoo, we won’t be dealing with all that now. 

Nahusha is an ancestor of the Puru/ Kuru dynasty and the forefather of the Pandavas. He was called a rajarishi (a king who is also a rishi) and known for his goodness until power corrupted him and resulted in a downfall. 

In Aranyaka Parva, Bhima went to explore the forest and came across a massive snake curled over a cave’s mouth. The snake said to Bhima that it would eat him. Bhima, despite all his strength, couldn’t free himself. The snake said he was Nahusha, an ancestor cursed to live like a snake until someone from his future generations would answer his questions satisfactorily and break the curse. 

Well, long story short, Yudhistira went looking for Bhima and answered all the questions, freeing Nahusha and helping him regain his position in the astral realm. 

But why was Nahusha cursed, and by whom? 

Eons ago, Indra lost his right to the throne when he got a pious Vritra slaughtered. He had to perform penance to atone for his sins. Since heaven needed a ruler, the celestial deities went to Nahusha and asked him to take the throne temporarily. He objected at first but agreed. However, his good nature began to get corrupted by the power of his position. It made him arrogant and invincible. 

Nahusha demanded Indra’s wife, Sachi Devi, marry him since he was now Indra. He was willing to use force if necessary. Sachi Devi took refuge with Brahma, who assured her she would not be married to anyone she disliked and Indra would be her husband. However, they needed her help to remove Nahusha from the throne. She agreed. 

Sachi Devi told Nahusha she would marry him but wanted to see him as the lord of the world and ride a palanquin carried by the seven celestial rishis. Nahusha was delighted and ordered the same. He was so heady with power that he kicked Rishi Agastya, urging them to love faster. 

Rishi Agastya was furious and cursed Nahusha to fall from heaven and become a serpent. Nahusha had been in the same serpent form for centuries, waiting for Bhima and Yuhistira to come his way and free him from the curse. He shared his learning with the Pandavas brothers, urging them not to commit similar mistakes and let arrogance and power control them.

Fun Fact: Snakes are a recurring theme in Mahabharata and appear in various forms. Vasuki, Takshaka, Nahusha, and Asvasena (Takshaka's son) are some examples. 

Do you know the names of Kardu's Naga sons? Here's a list of the chief snakes. 

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The AI images are made on Bing.