First Nāgavanshis are believed to be the children of Maharishi Kashyapa and Princess Kadru, the daughter of King Daksha. The origin of Nāgavansha or Nāgā dyansty is believed to be from Kashmir. According to Sarpapāttus of Kerala, Princess Kadru had given birth to one thousand Nāgās on the day of Āyilyam(Asleshā) nakshatra in the month of Kanni. The month of Kanni or Kanya is from Kanya Sankranti to Tula Sankranti according to Malayalam calendar. Āyilya Pῡja of Asleshā Pῡja is one the important offerings in Nāgā Temples of Kerala.
In Vedas
The Serpent propitiating Autsric races which in Rigvedā are identified as Ahis(अहि) also came to be known as Nāgās in Vedic and post Vedic literature. There is a mention of Admaka Nāgā in Rigvedā who is known to have been one of the leaders of Nāgās. There are many Nāgā Rishis who were seers of Vedic Mantras, such as Arbudkadraveya Nāgā (Rigveda 10/49), Jatakarna Erwata (Rigveda 10/76) and Sarparajni (Rigveda 10/183). There have been Nāgā dynasties, such as Sisunga etc.
The two seals of Indus valley demonstrate the Serpent worship. In Yajurvedā and Atharvavedā we get the reference of Serpent worship. Ratharvi(रथर्वी) is a Nāgā mentioned in Atharvavedā. Ratharvi means one who moves as fast as a chariot. In the Atharvavedā, the Nāgās, because of the location of their settlements in the mountainous north, have been called as Devajana also and grouped together with other mountainous tribes viz the Gandharvās, the Kinnarās, and the Yakshās etc. The Nāgās rose to prominence in certain pockets where they establish their republics.
Atharvavedā, Taittriya Samhitā, Chhāndogyopanishad and Griha Sutrās mention about the Serpent worshippers, who are described as a tribe. Other Purānas also confirm that Nāgās were a powerful race.
In Vishnupurāna
In Vishnupurāna, twelve prominent Nāgās are mentioned. They are Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka, Shankha, Shveta, Mahpadma, Kanvala, Ashvatara, Elapatra, Naga, Karkotaka, and Dhannajaya. The Padmapurana mentions a few other names, viz. Anant, Mahabala, Nagendra, Padma, Kulika, and Aparajita.
The Nāgās supported both Devās and Asurās depending upon their relations with them. Shesha and Vasuki Nāgās were the allies of Lord Vishnu. Some of the Nāgā girls married the Devās. Purukutsa son of Mandhata had married Narmadā, a Nāgā girl.
In Rāmāyana
In Rāmāyana, there is a mention about a city of Nāgās called Bhogavati. It is described as follows, "The broad roads are impenetrable and are protected on all sides. They are protected by terrible Serpents who have sharp fangs that are full of great poison. King Vāsuki, extremely terrible king of Nāgās resides there."
In Mahabhārata
According to Mahabhārta, Gandhara was a Nāgā kingdom and it was ruled by King Shakuni. His sister was Princess Gāndhari. She was married to King Dhritarāshtra of Hastināpura. Princess Ulūpi was the widowed daughter of King Kauravya who belonged to Nāgā dynasty. She was remarried to Prince Arjuna.
Mathurā and Champāvati
There is a description of two Nāgā cities in the Purānās. They are Mathurā and Champāvati. According to that description, nine Nāgās ruled over Champāvati and seven ruled over Mathurā.
Arbud(अर्बुद)
Arbud was a mighty Nāgā ruler. When Janamejaya started the Sarpasatra as described in Mahabharata, the Nāgās requested Sheshanāgā to show the way to save themselves, and pursuing his advice, approached Goddess Amba residing at Arbudāchal who gave them shelter. There were Nāgā colonies in Marwar, north Gujarat, Lat and Saurashtra. Their chief capital was Pātāl, not the underworld, but a famous port on the western coast where the river Sindhu(Indus) meets the sea. Of the famous Nāgās, Vāsuki was ruling in Saurashtra, Karkotaka on the banks of river Tāpti, and Purukutsa in Lat on the river Narmadā.
Arbud established his kingdom Arbudāranya and founded his capital at Arasanpur, so named because of the marble mines there. Goddess Amba was the ruling deity of this city and Lord Shiva also had abode in Koteshwar nearby. The city is believed to have been known up to 16th century and destroyed by an earthquake or some other natural calamity.
Referrence: History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc by J.P. Mittal, Buddhist Art & Antiquities of Himachal Pradesh, Upto 8th Century A.D. by O. C. Handa, Omacanda Hāṇḍā, Ancient Communities of the Himalaya by Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Discovery of Prehistory Ancient India: Krishna & Radha by Dr. Jagat K. Motwani and The Valmiki Ramayana: Set of 3 Volumes by Bibek Debroy, Land and people of Indian states and union territories : (in 36 volumes). 33. Daman & Diu by Shankarlal C. Bhatt.
In Vedas
The Serpent propitiating Autsric races which in Rigvedā are identified as Ahis(अहि) also came to be known as Nāgās in Vedic and post Vedic literature. There is a mention of Admaka Nāgā in Rigvedā who is known to have been one of the leaders of Nāgās. There are many Nāgā Rishis who were seers of Vedic Mantras, such as Arbudkadraveya Nāgā (Rigveda 10/49), Jatakarna Erwata (Rigveda 10/76) and Sarparajni (Rigveda 10/183). There have been Nāgā dynasties, such as Sisunga etc.
The two seals of Indus valley demonstrate the Serpent worship. In Yajurvedā and Atharvavedā we get the reference of Serpent worship. Ratharvi(रथर्वी) is a Nāgā mentioned in Atharvavedā. Ratharvi means one who moves as fast as a chariot. In the Atharvavedā, the Nāgās, because of the location of their settlements in the mountainous north, have been called as Devajana also and grouped together with other mountainous tribes viz the Gandharvās, the Kinnarās, and the Yakshās etc. The Nāgās rose to prominence in certain pockets where they establish their republics.
Atharvavedā, Taittriya Samhitā, Chhāndogyopanishad and Griha Sutrās mention about the Serpent worshippers, who are described as a tribe. Other Purānas also confirm that Nāgās were a powerful race.
In Vishnupurāna
In Vishnupurāna, twelve prominent Nāgās are mentioned. They are Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka, Shankha, Shveta, Mahpadma, Kanvala, Ashvatara, Elapatra, Naga, Karkotaka, and Dhannajaya. The Padmapurana mentions a few other names, viz. Anant, Mahabala, Nagendra, Padma, Kulika, and Aparajita.
The Nāgās supported both Devās and Asurās depending upon their relations with them. Shesha and Vasuki Nāgās were the allies of Lord Vishnu. Some of the Nāgā girls married the Devās. Purukutsa son of Mandhata had married Narmadā, a Nāgā girl.
In Rāmāyana
In Rāmāyana, there is a mention about a city of Nāgās called Bhogavati. It is described as follows, "The broad roads are impenetrable and are protected on all sides. They are protected by terrible Serpents who have sharp fangs that are full of great poison. King Vāsuki, extremely terrible king of Nāgās resides there."
In Mahabhārata
According to Mahabhārta, Gandhara was a Nāgā kingdom and it was ruled by King Shakuni. His sister was Princess Gāndhari. She was married to King Dhritarāshtra of Hastināpura. Princess Ulūpi was the widowed daughter of King Kauravya who belonged to Nāgā dynasty. She was remarried to Prince Arjuna.
Mathurā and Champāvati
There is a description of two Nāgā cities in the Purānās. They are Mathurā and Champāvati. According to that description, nine Nāgās ruled over Champāvati and seven ruled over Mathurā.
Arbud(अर्बुद)
Arbud was a mighty Nāgā ruler. When Janamejaya started the Sarpasatra as described in Mahabharata, the Nāgās requested Sheshanāgā to show the way to save themselves, and pursuing his advice, approached Goddess Amba residing at Arbudāchal who gave them shelter. There were Nāgā colonies in Marwar, north Gujarat, Lat and Saurashtra. Their chief capital was Pātāl, not the underworld, but a famous port on the western coast where the river Sindhu(Indus) meets the sea. Of the famous Nāgās, Vāsuki was ruling in Saurashtra, Karkotaka on the banks of river Tāpti, and Purukutsa in Lat on the river Narmadā.
Arbud established his kingdom Arbudāranya and founded his capital at Arasanpur, so named because of the marble mines there. Goddess Amba was the ruling deity of this city and Lord Shiva also had abode in Koteshwar nearby. The city is believed to have been known up to 16th century and destroyed by an earthquake or some other natural calamity.
Referrence: History Of Ancient India (a New Version) : From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc by J.P. Mittal, Buddhist Art & Antiquities of Himachal Pradesh, Upto 8th Century A.D. by O. C. Handa, Omacanda Hāṇḍā, Ancient Communities of the Himalaya by Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Discovery of Prehistory Ancient India: Krishna & Radha by Dr. Jagat K. Motwani and The Valmiki Ramayana: Set of 3 Volumes by Bibek Debroy, Land and people of Indian states and union territories : (in 36 volumes). 33. Daman & Diu by Shankarlal C. Bhatt.
