| Nagaina | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Nagaina |
|
First Appearance |
The Jungle Book (1894) |
|
Original Publisher |
Macmillan |
|
Created by |
Rudyard Kipling |
Origin[]
Nagaina was the wife of Nag and the enemy of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the mongoose. Nagaina and Nag lived in a garden alone until a British family moved in it and built a bungalow within it. She and Nag 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.