The holy sage Kashyapa had many wives. One day, he asked two of his wives, Kadru and Vinata, “Tell me, what boons would you like?” Kadru smiled and said, “I would like to have a thousand sons”. Sage Kashyapa said, “So be it. And what would you like, Vinata?” “I would like to have two sons who are stronger than the sons of Kadru”, said Vinata. “So be it”, said the sage.
The holy sage Kashyapa had many wives. One day, he asked two of his wives, Kadru and Vinata, “Tell me, what boons would you like?” Kadru smiled and said, “I would like to have a thousand sons”. Sage Kashyapa said, “So be it. And what would you like, Vinata?” “I would like to have two sons who are stronger than the sons of Kadru”, said Vinata. “So be it”, said the sage.
In time both Vinata and Kadru laid eggs. Kadru’s eggs hatched first and out of the eggs came ‘snakes. Kadru’s sons were thus called the ‘Nagas’. Meanwhile, days, months and years passed but Vinata’s eggs never hatched. In the meanwhile, Kadru and Vinata had a bet. Kadru and her sons tricked Vinata into believing that she lost the bet and as a result of which, Kadru told Vinata, “From now on, you and your sons will be my slave until your sons bring the nectar of immortality (Amruta), and free my sons from a curse”.
Poor Vinata waited for her eggs to hatch. Many days passed, but still her eggs did not hatch. Hurriedly, Vinata tried to help break one of the eggs slightly. As she broke the egg, a half man – half bird with undeveloped legs came out. He said, “O Mother, why were you in haste? If you would have waited, I would have freed you. I will be the mighty ‘Aruna’, Surya’s charioteer.” “When will I get to see you?”, wailed Vinata. “Mother, you will always see me at Sunrise and Sunset”, he said and flew off to the sky. This time Vinata waited for her last egg to hatch. Finally, when the egg hatched, out came a handsome man. He said, “Mother, I am the mighty Garuda. I will bring the nectar of immortality.” Saying this, he flew off to the sky.
Before he could take the nectar, Garuda had to fight both Lord Vishnu and Lord Indra. Finally, after a long battle, Indra agreed to give the nectar. Indra accompanied Garuda as he brought the nectar before the sons of Kadru, as was the condition laid out to Vinata. As he gave the nectar to Vinata’s sons, he told them, “I think you should cleanse yourselves before taking it.” They agreed and went to take a bath. When they were left alone, Lord Indra hastily took the pot and went to the heavens. With this Garuda fulfilled Kadru’s wish in bringing the nectar, thus freeing Vinata and her sons. However, they had been trickes, since Indra took away the nectar, and they could not really drink it.
However, when Indra took away the nectar, a few drops fell on some grass blades. When the Nagas returned back, they realized they had been tricked, and they tried licking the nectar from the grass blades. Since the blades were sharp, it cut their tongues in half. This is why snakes have forked tongues!!!