Today i.e #Baisakhi is celebrated in my hometown Bhadarwah as the #Homecoming of our #IshtDeva Lord Vasuki Naag. It is the same Naga found around the neck of Lord Shiva himself and was also the rope in Samudra Manthan. 1/n

Lord Vasuki Naag is also a vibhuti of Lord Krishna as stated in Srimad Bhagwat Geeta. In chapter 10 verse 28, Bhagwaan says:
आयुधानामहं वज्रं धेनूनामस्मि कामधुक्।
प्रजनश्चास्मि कन्दर्पः सर्पाणामस्मि वासुकिः।।
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Prahlaad who was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu was the king of Daityas. Bali who was the grandson of Prahlaad became the king afterwards and was also a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Bali never turned down a request for alms. 3/n

Once Lord Vishnu, disguised as Vamana came to him seeking alms. He asked for three footsteps of land. Bali complied and asked him to step on the land. Lord Vamana who was Lord Vishnu himself covered the entire universe and beyond in 2 steps...
4/n

...and asked Bali for place to put his 3rd step. Daityaraj Bali offered his head for Vamana Dev to step on. Lord Vamana stepped up sending Bali to Sutala Loka. He also promised Bali to protect him and his kingdom.
Srimad Bhagwatam 8:22:35-
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Lord Vasuki Naag being the Vibhuti of Lord Vishnu migrates to Sutala Loka on the day of Makar Sankranti for a period of 3 months. The idols of Vasuki Naag alongwith Vidyadhar Jeemut Vahan are bathed in Ghee and covered all over, leaving only the Charan for darshan and Puja.
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On the night preceeding Vaishakhi, the idols are washed with #Sazhi and decorated with ancient gold and silver jewellery. The Vaishakhi marks the return of the Lord Vasuki Naag to the earth. The ritual is followed in Vasuki Naag temples across J&K.
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