Takshaka
| Takshaka | |
|---|---|
Idol of Takshaka at Taxakeshwar temple | |
| Devanagari | तक्षक |
| Sanskrit transliteration | Takṣaka |
| Affiliation | Nāga |
| Abode | Indrapuri |
| Genealogy | |
| Consort | Unnamed Nāgini |
| Children | Ashvasena |
Takshaka (Sanskrit: तक्षक, Takṣaka) is a Nagaraja in Hinduism and Buddhism. He is mentioned in the Hindu epic Mahabharata as well as in the Bhagavata Purana. He is described to be a king of the Nagas.
Takshaka are also known in Chinese and Japanese mythology as being one of the "eight Great Dragon Kings" (八大龍王 Hachi-dai Ryuu-ou), they are the only snakes which can fly and also mentioned as the most venomous snakes, amongst Nanda (Nagaraja), Upananda, Sagara (Shakara), Vasuki, Balavan, Anavatapta and Utpala.