Dragons of Fame

Ahi / Vritra / Vrtra

History: Ahi was a huge, greedy dragon. He drank all the waters of the world and then coiled on top of the mountains. There, the Naga held all the water, unwilling to return it to the earth, which badly needed it.¹

The god Indra then attack Ahi with lightning bolts. After Indra slew Ahi, the waters returned to the world.¹

Symbolism: Many have found the Ahi to be a symbol for drought. When the sring comes and melts the mountain's snow, the water comes down much as it does in this myth.

Physical Description: Ahi was a huge Naga, so he had the body of a serpent but the head of a human.

1. Rose [Monsters] 8

For more information about references and footnotes, please see the bibliography.