Maṇināga

Maṇināga · maṇi-nāga, “the jewel serpent”

Maṇināga is a nāga of great power, a son of Śesha. Afraid of Garuḍa, he worshipped Bhagavān Śiva with bhakti and received from him the vara that he would be free from the fear of Garuḍa. Trusting that vara, he wandered near the milk ocean into Garuḍa’s own place and was seized and bound by Garuḍa, until Nandī, sent by Bhagavān Śiva, brought him back. The account is told in the glory of Garuḍa Tīrtha on the Gautamī.

The vara of Bhagavān Śiva

Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of Garuḍa Tīrtha, which destroys every obstacle. There was a very powerful son of Śesha named Maṇināga. He lived in fear of Garuḍa, and so he propitiated Śaṅkara with bhakti. Bhagavān Maheśvara, the Supreme, was pleased and said to the great nāga, “O nāga, choose a vara.” The nāga asked, “O Maheśvara, grant me freedom from Garuḍa.” Śambhu said, “So be it. You shall be free from the fear of Garuḍa.”

Captured by Garuḍa

No longer afraid of Garuḍa, the younger brother of Aruṇa, the nāga went out to the cool and pleasant place near the Kshīra-sāgara, the milk ocean, where Bhagavān Vishṇu rests. He wandered here and there and came into the place where Garuḍa dwelt. Seeing the nāga moving about without fear, Garuḍa seized him, carried him off to his own abode and bound the mighty nāga with nooses (pāśa).

Brought back by Nandī

Meanwhile Nandī said to Bhagavān Śiva, the ruler of the universe: “Surely the nāga has been swallowed or imprisoned by Garuḍa, O Deveśa. That is why he does not come. He may not come out alive.” Bhagavān Śiva, who already knew it, said that the nāga lay bound in Garuḍa’s abode, and sent Nandī to Bhagavān Vishṇu to bring the nāga back at his word.

Nandī told everything to Bhagavān Vishṇu, and Bhagavān Vishṇu told Garuḍa to give the nāga to Nandī. Garuḍa refused, and spoke proudly of his own strength. Then Bhagavān Vishṇu placed the little finger of his hand on Garuḍa’s head, and Garuḍa was crushed under its weight. At the prayer of Garuḍa and of Devī Śrī, Bhagavān Vishṇu told Nandī to take the nāga to Śiva together with Garuḍa. Nandī went to Bhagavān Śiva with the nāga and Garuḍa and told him everything. Bhagavān Śiva sent Garuḍa to bathe in the Gautamī, where he regained his body and strength, and that place became Garuḍa Tīrtha.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 20