Janamejaya is the great grandson of Pandavas in the Mahabharata and he performed the famous yajna or sacrifice to destroy all the snakes on the earth. Janamejaya was the son of King Parikshit, who was killed by serpent, Takshaka. King Parikshit was the son of Abhimanyu and Uttara; and grandson of Arjuna. He ruled the kingdom for 60 years but due to a curse was bitten and killed by serpent Takshaka. Janamejaya decided to take revenge and performed Sarpa Satra – serpent sacrifice. Thousands of snakes were drawn out by the spells chanted during the yajna. They immolated themselves in the yajna fire. But Takshaka did not come to the yajna as he was protected by Indra. Janamejaya, who realized that his main enemy was protected by the king of Devas, ordered priests to chant more potent mantras. The mantras forced Indra out of his abode with Takshaka hanging on to him. On seeing the sacrificial fire, Indra released Takshaka and fled the scene. Takshaka was soon heading