Public Domain Super Heroes
Nag
T2JB344 - Then Rikki-Tikki was battered to and fro as a rat is shaken by a dog

Real Name

Nag

First Appearance

The Jungle Book (1894)

Original Publisher

Macmillan

Created by

Rudyard Kipling

Origin[]

Nag was the husband of Nagaina and the enemy of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the mongoose. Nag and Nagaina lived in a garden alone until a British family moved in it and built a bungalow within it. He and Nagaina were fought by Rikki-Tikki, the family's pet mongoose.

They hated him and tried to get rid of him several times. Nag infiltrated the family's house one night through the bathroom so he could kill them all when they least expected it. Rikki-Tikki heard him while sleeping in the master bedroom and attacked Nag.

While Rikki-Tikki chomped onto the base of Nag's head, Teddy's father came with his gun and shot Nag, but the cobra had been killed by the mongoose shortly before he was blown to kingdom come. Nagaina, heartbroken, vowed revenge, although she eventually met her death from Rikki-Tikki as well.

Public Domain Literary Appearances[]

  • The Jungle Book (1894)

Notes[]

  • Book 5 of Panchatantra, an ancient Indian collection, includes the mongoose and snake story, an inspiration for the "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" story.

See Also[]