How the snakes were born

In the Satyug or The Age of Truth, there lived a king called Daksha Prajapati. He had two daughters called Kadru and Vinta. Both were married to Rishi Kashyap. The ascetic was happy with his wives and one day said to them, "Ask me a wish and I shall grant it." Kadru said that she wanted one thousand powerful snakes to be born to her. Vinta wanted only two sons who would be born powerful, intelligent and very strong. She wanted them to be more powerful than Kadru's sons. Kashyap agreed and granted them their respective wishes. After that the rishi went to the forest to continue his spiritual pursuits.

When the time came Kadru gave birth to one thousand eggs and Vinta had two eggs. The maids kept them in warm jars to keep them safe till they hatched. After 500 years all the thousand eggs of Kadru hatched and a thousand snakes were born to Kadru. But the two eggs of Vinta didn't hatch. Impatient and eager to see her child Vinta broke open one of the eggs. The child within the egg was only half formed, the upper half of his body was complete with strong limbs but the lower half was still unformed. The new born, having been thus disturbed by his own mother, was very angry and cursed his mother. "Mother, you have by your impatience destroyed my life.

Therefore you will serve Kadru, whom you are jealous of, as a slave for five hundred years. If you do not try to break open the other egg, till the time is ripe, then my brother will rid you of the curse. If you want your child to be strong and powerful then you must wait patiently for another five hundred years." Thus cursing his mother, the child flew heavenwards and became the charioteer of Surya, the Sun god. The colour of Dawn is due to the radiance of this boy who is called Arun. Vinta waited for another five hundred years and her second son was born. He was called Garuda and rid her of the curse of Arun.