Vasuki (Sanskrit: वासुकि, Vāsuki) is regarded in Hindu tradition as the king of the nagas, the serpent beings of Indian mythology. He is described in scriptural and iconographic sources as bearing a gem called Nagamani upon his head, an ornament associated with serpent royalty.
According to traditional accounts, Vasuki belongs to a family of prominent nagas. Shesha, the cosmic serpent who serves as the couch upon which the deity Vishnu reposes, is described as his elder brother, while the naga goddess Manasa is regarded as his sister. Vasuki is most commonly associated with the deity Shiva, who is believed to have blessed him and worn him coiled around his neck as an ornament. This imagery is a recurring feature of Shaiva iconography.
Beyond the Indian context, Vasuki is also recognised in Buddhist traditions of East Asia. In Chinese and Japanese mythology, he is counted among the "eight Great Dragon Kings" (八大龍王; Chinese: Bādà lóngwáng; Japanese: Hachidai Ryūō). The other dragon kings in this group are named as Nanda (Nāgarāja), Upananda, Sāgara (Shakara), Takshaka, Balavan, Anavatapta, and Utpala.
Through these associations across textual and iconographic traditions, Vasuki occupies a notable position in the wider mythology of nagas and serpent deities, linking Hindu narratives with related figures in East Asian Buddhist lore.
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Vasuki (source).