Karkotak

Karkotak, also spelled Karkotaka, is a naga king—a figure from Hindu and broader South Asian mythology described as a powerful serpentine ruler who governs other nagas and often inhabits forested or subterranean realms. The name is Sanskrit in origin, and in various traditions he is portrayed as a significant, if enigmatic, serpent deity within the naga pantheon.

In popular narratives, Karkotak is most closely associated with tales involving human heroes, notably the legend of Nala and Damayanti. In some versions, the naga king bites Nala with venom, a turning point that initiates a series of trials or exile for the king. The exact consequences of the bite differ between retellings: some depict it as a transformational or curse-like event, while others present it as a protective or guiding act that influences the hero’s fortunes. Because Hindu mythic cycles were transmitted through multiple regional traditions, the details and interpretations of Karkotak’s bite and its effects vary.

Beyond this episode, Karkotak appears in various Puranic and regional narratives as a formidable but sometimes benevolent naga figure. Serpent kings like Karkotak are commonly depicted in Hindu art and temple iconography as guardians or custodians of sacred places, waters, and treasures, embodying the ambivalent symbolism of serpents in the tradition.

Overall, Karkotak stands as a representative example of naga royalty in Indian mythology, illustrating the complex and culturally rich relationships between humans and serpent beings within these narratives.