In this episode of Storytelling with Shweta, we return to the Women of the Mahabharata series. Today’s story is about Ulupi the half human-half serpent Naga princess. She has barely a few lines dedicated to her in the ancient Indian epic but I wanted to explore her story from before her appearance in the Mahabharat. What I have for you on the podcast is a version of Ulupi’s life as imagined before and leading up to her meeting with Arjuna.
The piece that inspired this story from Indian mythology is currently on display in the South Asian Galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of New York.
I also briefly talk about Indian culture’s fascination with serpents and their representation in folkore. Listen to the episode for more. This family-friendly story is best for all who enjoy stories from the Mahabharata, Indian mythology and Folk tales.
Shownotes
The sculpture of Nagini- The Serpent Queen that served as inspiration for this episode is currently displayed in the South-Asian galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can see it and read about it here.
Many Scholars believe that the term Nagas could have referred to indigenous tribes whose emblem was the serpent. Read more here.
The reference to Garuda and the Nagas being eternal enemies is echoed is stories of the enmity between birds and snakes in multiple cultures. Here is an interesting article from the American Museum of Natural History that references stories around the world.
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