Scientists Confirm Existence of Ancient ‘Vasuki’ Naga from Kutch: Linked to Ocean Churning
Ancient remnants have been discovered in Kutch, Gujarat. These remnants belong to Vasuki Naga, the largest serpent in the world. No other anaconda surpasses its size. It existed during the dinosaur era as well. Scientists have found fragments of Vasuki Naga’s bones in the fossil bed of Khadir bet.
Legendary Serpent Resurfaces in Scientific Discourse
There is a claim circulating that this is the same serpent mentioned in the churning of the ocean. It helped in churning Mount Mandara like a wheel, resulting in the emergence of valuable substances like nectar and poison from the sea. Scientists have recovered fragments of Vasuki Naga’s bones from this excavation site, estimated to be around 27 crores years old. Its scientific name is Vasuki indicus.
The Gigantic Predator of Prehistory
According to scientific studies, it was as large as today’s crocodiles but wasn’t venomous. Studies published in scientific journals revealed that IIT Roorkee paleontologist Debjit Datta suggested it was Vasuki Naga. It was a slow-moving but formidable predator.
Dimensions and Behavior
It measured between 36 to 49 feet and weighed around 1000 kg. Datta indicated that it used its anaconda-like body to crush and suffocate its prey, but as global temperatures increased, its population decreased. It’s now believed that its average length ranged from 36 to 49 feet, weighing approximately 1000 kilograms.
Resurfacing of the Ancient Predator
In 2005, scientists from IIT Roorkee discovered large bone fragments of a prehistoric creature, possibly Vasuki Naga, in the Khadir fossil bed. Some of these bones were articulated, suggesting they were connected. Thus far, these remains represent the largest serpent ever known to humanity.
Oceanic Myth and Historical Reality
This is the same serpent mentioned in the churning of the ocean. With its help, Mount Mandara was rotated like a churn in the ocean of milk. As a result, 14 gems emerged along with nectar and poison.
The Divine Encounter
Lord Shiva drank the poison that emerged. Religious texts describe the churning of the ocean in detail. It’s said that when King Bali became the lord of the three worlds, all gods, goddesses, and sages prayed to Lord Vishnu for the protection of the three worlds. At that time, Lord Vishnu suggested the idea of churning the ocean. Lord Narayan said that by churning the ocean, one would obtain nectar, drinking which the gods would become immortal.
Who is Vasuki, the Serpent?
Vasuki is referred to as the serpent of the Hindu god Shiva. He was known as the king of serpents. This legendary serpent is found in opposition to the Titanoboa, which was discovered in the coal mines of Colombia in 2009. It was approximately 42 feet long and weighed about 1100 kilograms. This serpent was discovered nearly 5.80-6.00 crore years ago.
How Vasuki Differs from Other Serpents?
Vasuki’s bones exhibit several distinctive features that set him apart from other serpents. For instance, the bones of this serpent have small pits between them, which distinguish them from most other serpent species. Its shape resembles that of a Medusoid, a specific type of serpent. It lacks some distinctive features found in other serpents, making it even more unique. Scientists have identified 22 bones with grooves along with this creature, as no specific features were found that are commonly observed in other serpent species.
The most remarkable aspect is that its bones are exceptionally large. No other Medusoid serpent has a larger bone than Vasuki. Its size is comparable to that of a paddle. Not all bones beneath the serpent’s spine are fully developed, making it even more distinct. A portion of this serpent’s spine is sharp.
History of the Medusoid Serpent
Medusoid serpents existed on Earth during ancient times. Their remains are now found in various regions. Scientists are attempting to understand how these serpents migrated from one place to another, how they spread, and how they became extinct in some areas. The search for the new serpent ‘Vasuki Indicus’ has made this mystery even more complex. This serpent shares deep connections with an ancient Medusoid serpent from India and a type of serpent found in North Africa. It raises questions about whether there was a genuine land connection between India and Africa millions of years ago that allowed this serpent to migrate from one place to another.
How Long was Vasuki Indicus?
Scientists estimated the length of Vasuki Indicus by closely studying the bones of its largest serpent. They used various methods and conducted several calculations. In the first method, they measured the distance between the grooves of the adjacent bones of the serpent’s spine as the basis for estimation. In the second method, they calculated the distance between the grooves of the adjacent bones of the serpent’s spine for estimation. This research utilized the largest bone, resulting in varied estimations. According to the first estimation, Vasuki would be between 10.9 and 12.2 meters tall. The second method yielded estimates ranging from 14.5 to 15.2 meters. These results cannot be entirely accurate due to the unavailability of data on certain parts of the serpent’s spine. However, it can be inferred from the findings so far that Vasuki Indicus was a colossal serpent, possibly the largest among all known serpents.
Why is Vasuki Indicus So Large? Perhaps Even Larger Than Titanoboa!
Scientists have observed that the bones of Vasuki Indicus, the largest among all known serpents, are relatively smaller than those of Titanoboa (which is considered the largest serpent in human history). However, based on their analysis, Vasuki Indicus could be significantly taller than Titanoboa.
Why is this so?
Scientists consider these findings genuine because one method relies heavily on data from various species of living serpents. Whereas the other method is based solely on data from a single species, thus leading to the conclusion that Vasuki Indicus might have been taller than Titanoboa.
