One of the most sacred images in India is the snake emerging from a termite hill. Termite hills are remarkable natural constructions. They provide ventilation and protection from flooding and predators for the termites. When the termites abandon their gigantic mounds, they are often occupied by snakes. Snakes get refuge from the heat and potential predators.

In the folk mythology of India, a serpent residing in a termite mound is an object of veneration. Men and women, seeking children and harvests, worship these mounds. The mound is anointed with sandal paste and vermilion. The snake within is offered milk as food. There are many folklore stories of goddesses appearing near such mounds in the form of babies. They are then raised by local kings.