Understanding Sri Vasuki Naga
India Discovers Vasuki Indicus: The Largest Known Snake from the Eocene Period Read on to learn about it and also to learn who Sri Vasuki Naga really is. In a remarkable discovery , Prof Sunil Bajpai and Dr Debajit Datta of the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee found the fossil of a serpent in Gujarat that may have been the largest snake ever to exist on Earth. Named Vasuki Indicus , after the king of snakes in Hindu mythology (Vasuki) and its location (Indicus for India), this madtsoiid snake from the warm Eocene period is estimated to be even larger than the previous record-holder, Titanaboa. This discovery reinforces India's status as a land with one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Interestingly, the scientists involved chose to name the snake after Sri Vasuki Naga , a prominent figure in Hindu mythology. Sri Vasuki is known for being the serpent adorned by Lord Shiva around his neck and for his role as the rope in the churning of the great ocean (Sag...