Nāgakuṇḍa is a sacred pool (kuṇḍa) at Pushkara, in present-day Rajasthan. Brahmā made cool water fall here for the tired nāgas (serpents) who had come from pātāla (the underworld) to his great yajña.

It is the place of the Nāgapañcamī vrata (vow), kept on the śukla pañcamī of the month of Śrāvaṇa. Brahmā said that nāgas who bathe here are freed from fear of Garuḍa, and that devotees who worship the nāgas here on Nāgapañcamī are guarded from snake-bite and fear.

How the pool was formed

Brahmā held his great yajña (fire ritual) at Pushkara. The nāgas had been cursed by Brahmā and driven to pātāla for harming living beings. They heard of the yajña and, full of devotion, made the hard journey from pātāla to take part.

When they reached Pushkara they were worn out and thirsty from the long way. Moved by their devotion, Brahmā made cool, pure water fall for them alone. This water gathered at Pushkara and became the Nāgakuṇḍa. It is also called Nāga-nadī.

The Nāgapañcamī vrata

Brahmā set up the observance of Nāgapañcamī. On the śukla pañcamī tithi of the month of Śrāvaṇa, nāgas and devotees should bathe at the Nāgakuṇḍa. He declared:

Nāgas who bathe here on this day will be freed completely from all fear of Garuḍa, the great enemy of the serpent race.
Devotees who worship the nāgas at this tīrtha on Nāgapañcamī will be guarded from snake-bite and from all fear of serpents.

Location

Nāgakuṇḍa lies within the holy area of Pushkara, the great tīrtha made holy by Brahmā’s own yajña, in present-day Rajasthan. It is one of the many sacred pools, ghāṭs (bathing steps) and kuṇḍas of the Pushkara tīrtha.

Sources

Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Sṛshṭi Khaṇḍa, Chapter 31