Story of origin of cure for snake bite in Hindu tradition is
found in the Adi Parva (Chapter 20) of Mahabharata. Lord Brahma taught Sage
Kashyapa the cure of snake poison.
Nagas or snakes were born to Kadru, one of the wives of Sage
Kashyapa.
Once, Kadru asked her naga children to hand down like hair from the tail of Uchaishravas, the horse of Indra. So that she could win the bet, she had with Vinita, another wife of Sage Kashyapa.
Once, Kadru asked her naga children to hand down like hair from the tail of Uchaishravas, the horse of Indra. So that she could win the bet, she had with Vinita, another wife of Sage Kashyapa.
Some of the nagas refused to do so. Kadru became angry and
cursed them that they would be burnt alive at snake sacrifice of Janamejaya.
After the curse, the snakes became dangerously venomous.
Other living beings faced innumerable problems due to this
imbalance in nature. To overcome the problem, Brahma taught Sage Kashyapa the art
of curing snake bite to protect other creatures that might be bitten by the
snakes.