Nagalakshmi
Nagalakshmi is a Naga goddess and the wife of Shesha, a nagaraja and one of the two mounts of Vishnu featured in Hindu Sanatan Dharma devotional, spiritual and religious texts. She is considered to be the personification of the divine ocean called the Kshira Sagara.
Legend
Nagalakshmi's legend is mainly found in the Garga Samhita. In this, the Kshira Sagara is personified as her. In Chapter 3 of the Balabhadra Khanda of the Garga Samhita, it is mentioned that she incarnated on earth along with her husband.The Kshira Sagara is the fifth from the centre of the seven oceans. It surrounds the continent known as Krauncha. According to Hindu scriptures, the devas and asuras worked together for a millennium to churn this ocean in order to acquire amrita, the elixir of immortal life. It is described as the place where the deity Vishnu reclines over his serpent-mount Shesha, accompanied by his consort, Lakshmi.
Incarnations
In the Treta Yuga, she incarnated as Urmila, the wife of Lakshmana. She was born as the daughter of King Janaka of Mithila and Queen Sunayana. She played a prominent role in the Hindu epic Ramayana. When Shesha's avatar Lakshmana went to exile with Rama, Urmila slept continuously for fourteen years so that her husband could serve his brother without requiring sleep, an episode known as Urmila Nidra.In the Dvapara Yuga, she was born as Revati, the wife of Balarama and the daughter of King Kakudmi of Kushasthali. However, in traditions where Balarama is identified with Vishnu, Revati is regarded to be a form of Lakshmi.
Literature
In the Garga Samhita, the sage Pradipika recounts the attributes of Nagalakshmi:Worship
The Ananthankavu Nagalakshmi Temple, located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is known for its environmental sensitivity and association with snakes. It stands as the sole sacred grove housing ancient 1000-year-old idols of Nagalakshmi and Nagaraja Ananthan.Beyond the Indian subcontinent and Hinduism
In the snake worship traditions of Tai folk religion and animism in Thailand, she is known as Usa Ananwati and is regarded as the spouse of Shesha. She is regularly honored in local worship ceremonies.Among the Nagini in Thai snake worship, she is the second most revered figure, following Lady Sri Pathumma Nagini, the wife of Shri Sutho Naga of Kham Chanod Forest in Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, Isan, Thailand. Kham Chanod is considered the spiritual center of snake worship in Thai folk beliefs.
Numerous shrines across Thailand are dedicated to her as a guardian deity, with one of the most notable being Wat Tham Dao Khao Kaeo in Lam Phaya Klang subdistrict, Muak Lek district, Saraburi province., Wat Laem Maklue, Sam Ngaam Subdistrict, Don Tum District, Nakhon Pathom Province.,
Wat Thum Wang Pha Phaya Nakaraj, Huai Phai Subdistrict, Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani Province., Wat Phang Muang, Si Prachan Subdistrict, Si Prachan District, Suphan Buri., Wat Pa Phu Chan Hom, Ban Non Muang Wan, Kham Lo Subdistrict, Chai Wan District, Udon Thani Province.