The Mahabharata mentions that Uchchaihshravas rose from the Samudra Manthana ("churning of the milk ocean") and Indra—the god-king of heaven—seized it and made it his vehicle (vahana).

[3][4] The Mahabharata also mentions a bet between sisters and wives of Kashyapa - Vinata and Kadru about the colour of Uchchaihshravas's tail.

[6] The twelfth-century Hariharacaturanga records once Brahma, the creator-god, performed a sacrifice, out of which rose a winged, white horse called Uchchaihshravas.

Uchchaihshravas again rose out of the cosmic Ocean of Milk and was taken by the king of the demons (Asura) Bali, who used it to attain many impossible things.

[7] The Kumarasambhava, by Kalidasa, narrates that Uchchaihshravas, the best of horses and symbol of Indra's glory, was stolen by the demon Tarakasura from heaven.