In various Asian religious traditions, the Nāgas () are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (
Patala), and can occasionally take human or part-human form, or are so depicted in art. Furthermore, nāgas are also known as
dragons
A dragon is a magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in Western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depict ...
and
water spirits. A female nāga is called a Nagin, or a
Nagini. According to legend, they are the children of the sage
Kashyapa and
Kadru. Rituals devoted to these supernatural beings have been taking place throughout South Asia for at least 2,000 years. They are principally depicted in three forms: as entirely human with snakes on the heads and necks, as common serpents, or as half-human, half-snake beings in
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
and
Buddhism
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
.
''
Nagaraja'' is the title given to the king of the nāgas. Narratives of these beings hold cultural significance in the mythological traditions of many
South Asia
South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...
n and
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
n cultures, and within Hinduism and Buddhism. Communities such as the
Nagavanshi,
Khmer and
Eelamese claim descent from this race.
Etymology
In Sanskrit, a () is a snake, most often depicted by the
Indian cobra (''Naja naja''). A synonym for ' is ' (). There are several words for "snake" in general, and one of the very commonly used ones is ' (). Sometimes the word ' is also used generically to mean "snake".
[, p. 423. The first definition of ''nāgaḥ'' given reads "A snake in general, particularly the cobra." p.539] The word is
cognate
In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language.
Because language change can have radical effects on both the s ...
with English 'snake', Germanic: ''*snēk-a-'',
Proto-IE: ''*(s)nēg-o-'' (with
s-mobile).
Alternatively, an Indo-European etymology as a "hairless, naked animal"—cognate to English "naked"—would explain that the Sanskrit word ''nāga'' can also mean "cloud", "mountain" or "elephant".
[, p. 33.]
Hinduism

Nāgas, as a serpent-shaped group of deities that often take form as cobras, are prominent in
Hindu iconography, throughout the Hindu texts (especially in the first book of the
Mahābhārata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the '' Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kurukshetra War, a war of succe ...
) and in local folk traditions of worship. In some regions of the Himalaya, nāgas are regarded as the divine rulers of the region - as in
Kullu Valley, in
Berinag and in the valley of the
Pindar River, which is believed to be ruled by the ninefold
Naiṇī Devī. Both in the
Nilamata Purana of
Kashmir
Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...
and in the
Swayambhu Purana of
Kathmandu
Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...
, the respective region begins its history as a lake, populated by nāgas, which is later drained.
Ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Mahabharata, the
Ramayana
The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
, and the
describe the nāgas as a powerful, splendid and proud semi-divine species that can assume their physical form either as human (often with a halo of cobra hoods behind their head), as a partially human serpent, or as a whole serpent. Their domain is in the enchanted underworld, the underground realm filled with gems, gold and other earthly treasures called ''Naga-loka'' or ''Patala-loka''. They are also often associated with bodies of waters—including rivers, lakes, seas, and wells—and are guardians of treasure. Their power and venom make them potentially dangerous to humans. However, in
Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology refers to the collection of myths associated with Hinduism, derived from various Hindu texts and traditions. These myths are found in sacred texts such as the Vedas, the Itihasas (the ''Mahabharata'' and the ''Ramayan ...
, they often take the role of benevolent protagonists: in the
Samudra Manthana
The Samudra Manthana () is a major episode in Hinduism that is elaborated in the Vishnu Purana, a major text of Hinduism. The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of the elixir of eternal life, amrita.
Nomenclature
*Sāgara manthana (साग� ...
,
Vasuki, a
nagaraja who abides on
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
's neck, became the churning rope for churning of the
Ocean of Milk. Their eternal archrival is the
Garuḍa
Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu god, Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Hindu, Buddhist mythology, Buddhist, and Jain fai ...
, the legendary semi-divine bird-like deity.
Vishnu
Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
is originally portrayed in the form sheltered by
Sheshanāga or reclining on Shesha, but the iconography has been extended to other deities as well. The serpent is a common feature in
Ganesha
Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...
iconography, and appears in many forms: around the neck, use as a
sacred thread (Sanskrit: ') wrapped around the stomach as a belt, held in a hand, coiled at the ankles, or as a throne. Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake. Maehle (2006: p. 297) states that "Patanjali is thought to be a manifestation of the serpent of eternity".
Folk Traditions
In South India, termite hills are believed to be the dwelling place of female nagammas, whereas Himalayan Nags and Naginis, such as
Naiṇī Devī of
Pindar Valley, are worshipped as underworld beings protecting water resources and the wellbeing of village and valley.
Literature
The ''
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
'' epic is the first text that introduces nāgas; it describes them in detail and narrates their stories. The cosmic snake
Shesha, the
nagarajas (nāga kings)
Vasuki,
Takshaka, Airavata and
Karkotaka, and the princess
Ulupi, are all depicted in the Mahabharata.
The
Brahma Purana describes the reign of Adishesha as the king of the serpents in Patala:
The
Kamba Ramayana describes the role of Vasuki in the
Samudra Manthana
The Samudra Manthana () is a major episode in Hinduism that is elaborated in the Vishnu Purana, a major text of Hinduism. The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of the elixir of eternal life, amrita.
Nomenclature
*Sāgara manthana (साग� ...
:
The
Devi Bhagavata Purana
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (, '), also known as the Devi Purana or simply Devi Bhagavatam, is one of the eighteen Mahapurana (Hinduism), Mahapuranas as per Shiva Purana of Hinduism. Composed in Sanskrit language, Sanskrit by Vyasa, Veda Vyasa ...
describes the legend of Manasa:
Buddhism

As in Hinduism, the Buddhist nāga generally has sometimes been portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head. One nāga, in human form, attempted to become a monk, and when telling it that such ordination was impossible, the Buddha told it how to ensure that it would be reborn a human, and so able to become a monk.
The nāgas are believed to both live on
Nagaloka, among the other minor deities and in various parts of the human-inhabited earth. Some of them are water-dwellers, living in streams or the ocean; others are earth-dwellers, living in caverns.
The nāgas are the followers of (Pāli: Virūpakkha), one of the
Four Heavenly Kings who guards the western direction. They act as guards upon Mount Sumeru, protecting the
dēvas of
Trāyastriṃśa from attacks by the
asuras
Asuras () are a class of beings in Indian religions, and later Persian and Turkic mythology. They are described as power-seeking beings related to the more benevolent Deva (Hinduism), Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhism, ...
.
Among the notable nāgas of Buddhist tradition is
Mucalinda,
nagaraja and protector of the Buddha. In the Vinaya Sutra (I, 3), shortly after his enlightenment, the Buddha is meditating in a forest when a great storm arises, but graciously, King Mucalinda gives shelter to the Buddha from the storm by covering the Buddha's head with his seven snake heads.
[P. 72 ''How Buddhism Began: The Conditioned Genesis of the Early Teachings'' By Richard Francis Gombrich] Then the king takes the form of a young
Brahmin
Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...
and renders the Buddha homage.
In the
Vajrayāna and
Mahāsiddha traditions, nāgas in their half-human form are depicted holding a nāgas-jewel,
kumbhas of
amrita
''Amrita'' (, IAST: ''amṛta''), ''Amrit'' or ''Amata'' in Pali language, Pali, (also called ''Sudha'', ''Amiy'', ''Ami'') is a Sanskrit word that means "immortality". It is a central concept within Indian religions and is often referred to i ...
, or a
terma that had been elementally encoded by adepts. In
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...
, nāgas are known as ''klu'' or ''klu-mo'' and they are associated with water and cleanliness, as they live in oceans, rivers, lakes, and springs, and do not want their environments to be disturbed or polluted.
The two chief disciples of the Buddha,
Sariputta and
Moggallāna
Maudgalyāyana (), also known as Mahāmaudgalyāyana or by his birth name Kolita, was one of Gautama Buddha, the Buddha's closest disciples. Described as a contemporary of disciples such as Subhuti, Śāriputra ('), and Mahākāśyapa (), he i ...
are both referred to as ''Mahānāga'' or "Great nāga". Some of the most important figures in Buddhist history symbolize nāgas in their names such as
Dignāga
Dignāga (also known as ''Diṅnāga'', ) was an Indian Buddhist philosopher and logician. He is credited as one of the Buddhism, Buddhist founders of Indian logic (''hetu vidyā'') and Buddhist atomism, atomism. Dignāga's work laid the grou ...
,
Nāgāsēna, and, although other etymons are assigned to his name,
Nāgārjuna
Nāgārjuna (Sanskrit: नागार्जुन, ''Nāgārjuna''; ) was an Indian monk and Mahāyāna Buddhist philosopher of the Madhyamaka (Centrism, Middle Way) school. He is widely considered one of the most important Buddhist philosoph ...
.
Literature
The
Nāga Saṃyutta of the
Pali Canon
The Pāḷi Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant Early Buddhist texts, early Buddhist canon. It derives mainly from t ...
consists of
suttas
Buddhist texts are religious texts that belong to, or are associated with, Buddhism and Schools of Buddhism, its traditions. There is no single textual collection for all of Buddhism. Instead, there are three main Buddhist Canons: the Pāli C ...
specifically devoted to explaining nature of the nāgas.
In the "Devadatta" chapter of the ''
Lotus Sutra
The ''Lotus Sūtra'' (Sanskrit: ''Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram'', ''Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma'', zh, p=Fǎhuá jīng, l=Dharma Flower Sutra) is one of the most influential and venerated Buddhist Mahāyāna sūtras. ...
'', the daughter of the dragon king, an eight year old
longnü (龍女, ), after listening to
Mañjuśrī preach the Lotus Sutra, transforms into a male Bodhisattva and immediately reaches full enlightenment.
Some say this tale appears to reinforce the viewpoint prevalent in Mahayana scriptures that a male body is required for Buddhahood, even if a being is so advanced in realization that they can magically transform their body at will and demonstrate the emptiness of the physical form itself. However, many schools of Buddhism and classical, seminal Chinese exegeses interpret the story to repudiate this viewpoint, stating the story demonstrates that women can attain Buddhahood in their current form.
[
According to tradition, the Prajñapāramita sutras had been given by the Buddha to a great nāga who guarded them in the sea, and were conferred upon Nāgārjuna later.]
In Tibetan Buddhist
Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Arunachal Prades ...
literature, nāgas are portrayed as guardians or owners of submerged treasure, which can be mere wealth or supernatural, "spiritual" treasures.
Other traditions
In Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
and Java
Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...
, the nāga is a wealthy underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld.
...
deity. For Malay sailors, nāgas are a type of dragon with many heads. In Laos
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...
they are beaked water serpents. In Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...
, they are said to be found in waterways and underground locations, and are susceptible to the suffering caused by human carelessness towards the natural environment.
Sri Lanka
The Naga people
Nagas are various Tibeto-Burman languages, Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups native to northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. The groups have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority of population in the Indian state of Nagaland ...
were believed to be an ancient tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...
and origins of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
. According to V. Kanakasabhai, the Oliyar, Parathavar, Maravar
Maravar (also known as Maravan and Marava) are a Tamil community in the state of Tamil Nadu. These people are one of the three branches of the Mukkulathor confederacy. Members of the Maravar community often use the honorific title '' Thevar''. ...
, and Eyinar, who were widespread across South India
South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
and North-East Sri Lanka, are all Naga tribes. There are references to them in several ancient texts such as Mahavamsa, Manimekalai
''Maṇimēkalai'' (, ), also spelled ''Manimekhalai'' or ''Manimekalai'', is a Tamil Buddhist epic composed by Kulavāṇikaṉ Seethalai Sataṉar probably somewhere between the 2nd century to the 6th century. It is an "anti-love story", a ...
, and also in other Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
and Pali literature
Pali literature is concerned mainly with Theravada Buddhism, of which Pali (IAST: pāl̤i) is the traditional language. The earliest and most important Pali literature constitutes the Pāli Canon, the authoritative scriptures of Theravada school ...
. They are generally represented as a class of superhumans taking the form of serpents who inhabit a subterranean world. Texts such as Manimekalai represent them as persons in human form.
Cambodia
Stories of nāgas (, ) have been part of Khmer society for thousands of years, dating back to the Funan era (). According to reports from two Chinese envoys, Kang Tai and Zhu Ying, the state of Funan
Funan (; , ; , Chữ Hán: ; ) was the name given by Chinese cartographers, geographers and writers to an ancient Khmer-Mon Indianized state—or, rather a loose network of states ''( Mandala)''—located in Mainland Southeast Asia covering ...
was established in the 1st century CE when an Indian prince named Kaundinya I () married a nāga princess named Soma (កូនព្រះចន្ទ kon preah chan; "Soma, daughter of the moon god"; Chinese: 柳葉, 柳叶 ''Liuye''; "Willow Leaf"). The couple is symbolized in the story of Preah Thong and Neang Neak.
As the legend goes, Kaundinya received instruction in a dream to take a magic bow from a temple and defeat Soma, the nāga princess and daughter of the nāga king. During the ensuing battle, they fell in love and later married, establishing the royal lineage of the Funan dynasty. Kaundinya subsequently constructed the capital city of Vyadhapura, and the kingdom became known as ''Kambujadeśa'' or Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...
(, ).
The love story between Kaundinya and Soma is the foundation for many standard practices in modern-day Khmer culture, including wedding ceremonies and other rituals.
The Khmer people regard themselves as descendants of the nāgas and many still believe the nāga exist today, destined to one day return and restore prosperity to their people.
Although wars, nature, and the passage of time destroyed many temples from the Funan era, nāgas can still be seen in ancient temples dating to the Chenla
Chenla or Zhenla ( zh, t=真臘, s=, 真腊, p=Zhēnlà, w=Chen-la; , ; ) is the Chinese designation for the vassal of the kingdom of Funan preceding the Khmer Empire that existed from around the late 6th to the early 9th century in Indochina. ...
and Angkor
Angkor ( , 'capital city'), also known as Yasodharapura (; ),Headly, Robert K.; Chhor, Kylin; Lim, Lam Kheng; Kheang, Lim Hak; Chun, Chen. 1977. ''Cambodian-English Dictionary''. Bureau of Special Research in Modern Languages. The Catholic Uni ...
eras. For instance, the temple now called "The Coiled Nāgas Temple" (, ) was previously named, "Emperor's Wealth Temple" ( ).
In Khmer culture, nāgas symbolize rain, and represent a bridge between the mortal realm () and the realm of devas (Heaven; /). They have the ability to transform into half or fully human and act as protectors against invisible forces, deities, or malicious intentions. Furthermore, Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...
n nāgas possess numerological symbolism based on the number of their heads. Odd-headed nāgas embody masculinity, infinity, timelessness, and immortality, since all odd numbers derives from the number one (១). Even-headed nāgas denote femininity, physicality, mortality, temporality, and the Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...
. Odd headed nāgas are believed to represent immortality and are carved and used throughout Cambodia.
Odd-headed nāga
;1-headed nāga: Mostly seen in modern days, carved on objects for protection in temples, monasteries, king's places and residences of deity (អទីទេព). They symbolize that even if everything in this world is gone, there's still this nāga left bringing victory and happiness to all.
;3-headed, Kalyak: Born between the mortal and divine realms, they live at the bottom of the ocean as guardians of wealth, often depicted as evil (nothing to do with the symbolism). They symbolize the Hindu Trimurti
The Trimurti ( /t̪ɾimʊɾt̪iː/) is the triple deity of supreme divinity in Hinduism, in which the cosmic functions of creation, preservation, and destruction are personified as a triad of deities. Typically, the designations are that ...
; (left Vishnu
Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
, middle Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
, right Brahma
Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...
) and the three realms - heaven (devas' realm), earth (mortal realm), and hell (norok realm). In Buddhism, the central head represents Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),*
*
*
was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
, the right Dharma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
and the left the monks.
;5-headed Anontak/Sesak: Born from the earthly elements, they are immortals. They symbolize the 5 directions; East, West, North, South and Middle ( Ganga river, Indus
The Indus ( ) is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans- Himalayan river of South and Central Asia. The river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in the Western Tibet region of China, flows northwest through the dis ...
river, Yamuna
The Yamuna (; ) is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of about on the southwestern slopes of Bandarpunch peaks of the Low ...
river, Brahmaputra
The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Southwestern China, Northeastern India, and Bangladesh. It is known as Brahmaputra or Luit in Assamese, Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan, the Siang/Dihang River in Arunachali, and ...
river (Brahma's Son River), Sarasvati river). In Buddhism, the 5 heads represent the 5 Buddhas - Kadabak, Kunsontho, Koneakumno, Samnak Koudom Gautama Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),*
*
*
was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...
, and Seare Metrey.
;7-headed Muchlentak: Originated from the Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...
, they bring peace and prosperity to humans. They control the seven oceans and seven mountains called 'Seytontaraksatakboriphorn.' Sheltered Gautama Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),*
*
*
was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...
for 7 days and 7 nights ( Mucalinda). Often depicted as guardian statues, carved as balustrades on causeways leading to main temples, such as those found in Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat (; , "City/Capital of Wat, Temples") is a Buddhism and Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia. Located on a site measuring within the ancient Khmer Empire, Khmer capital city of Angkor, it was originally constructed ...
. They also represent the seven races within nāga society, which has a mythological, or symbolic, association with "the seven colors of the rainbow." They symbolize the Sun, the Moon and five other planets; ចន្ទ (Moon) lso Mondayអង្គារ (Mars) uesdayពុធ (Mercury) ednesdayព្រហស្បតិ៍ (Jupiter) hursdayសុក្រ (Venus) ridayសៅរ៍ (Saturn) aturdayអាទិត្យ (Sun) unday
;9-headed Vasukak: The king who rules the Earth ( Vasuki). When carved on both sides, the front heads represent reincarnation and behind represent death. He symbolizes the power of the nine immortals of the universe - power of the lightning and thunder of the East (ទិសបូព៌ា), power of the fire of the Southeast (ទិសអាគ្នេយ៍), power of the law and order of the South (ទិសខាងត្បូង), power of the spirits and demonic creatures of the Southwest (ទិសនារតី), power of the rain of the West (ទិសខាងលិច), power of the wind of the Northwest (ទិសពាយព្យ), power of the wealth and aesthetic of the North (ទិសឧត្តរ), power of destruction of the Northeast (ទិសឥសាន្ត), power of Brahma
Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...
(creation and preservation) in the middle (កណ្តាល).
In Indian origin religions, there are four different nāga races:
#Primitive Dragons such as the European dragon who can spit fire.
#The Spiritual Dragons who are the guardians of wealth, protecting treasure in the ocean. They can take on a half human form.
#The Divine Nāgas, who can travel to heaven, came from Lord Indra
Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref>
Indra is the most frequen ...
's realm (the divine realm). They can take on a full human form.
#The Supreme and Divine Nāgas, like Vasuki the follower of Lord Shiva, who alone can fight the entire Garuḍa
Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu god, Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Hindu, Buddhist mythology, Buddhist, and Jain fai ...
race.
All of them have great powers and can set off storms, rain, tempest and create lands from the sea.
Indonesia
In Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese culture
The Balinese people (, ) are an Austronesian people, Austronesian ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Bali. The Balinese population of 4.2 million (1.7% of Indonesia's population) live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the ...
, Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...
, a nāga is depicted as a crowned, giant, magical serpent, sometimes winged. It is similarly derived from the Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
-Hinduism tradition, merged with Javanese animism
Animism (from meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in ...
. The nāga in Indonesia mainly derived and influenced by Indic tradition, combined with the native animism tradition of sacred serpents. In Sanskrit, the term ''nāga'' literally means snake, but in Java it normally refer to serpent deity, associated with water and fertility. In Borobudur
Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur (, ), is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, near the city of Magelang and the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia.
Constructed of gray andesite-like stone, the temple consi ...
, the nāgas are depicted in their human form, but elsewhere they are depicted in animal shape.
Early depictions of circa-9th-century Central Java closely resembled Indic nāga which was based on imagery of cobra
COBRA or Cobra, often stylized as CoBrA, was a European avant-garde art group active from 1948 to 1951. The name was coined in 1948 by Christian Dotremont from the initials of the members' home countries' capital cities: Copenhagen (Co), Brussels ...
s. During this period, nāga-serpents were depicted as giant cobras supporting the waterspout of yoni
''Yoni'' (Sanskrit: योनि, ), sometimes called ''pindika'', is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu goddess Shakti. It is usually shown with ''linga'' – its masculine counterpart. Together, they symbolize the merging ...
-lingam
A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or Aniconism, aniconic representation of the Hinduism, Hindu Hindu deities, god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Up ...
. The examples of nāga-sculpture can be found in several Javanese candis, including Prambanan
Prambanan (, , Javanese script, Hanacaraka: ꦫꦫꦗꦺꦴꦁꦒꦿꦁ) is a 9th-century Hindu temple, Hindu Candi of Indonesia, temple compound in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, in southern Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, Trimūr ...
, Sambisari, Ijo, and Jawi. In East Java, the Penataran temple complex contain a ''Candi Nāga'', an unusual nāga-temple with its Hindu-Javanese caryatids holding corpulent nāgas aloft.
The later depiction since the 15th century, however, was slightly influenced by Chinese dragon imagery—although unlike its Chinese counterparts, Javanese and Balinese nāgas do not have legs. Nāga as the lesser deity of earth and water is prevalent in the Hindu period of Indonesia, before the introduction of Islam.
In Bali
Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...
nese tradition, nāgas are often depicted battling garuḍa
Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu god, Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Hindu, Buddhist mythology, Buddhist, and Jain fai ...
s. Intricately carved nāgas are found as stairs railings in bridges or stairs, such as those found in Balinese temple
A Balinese temple, or better-known as () is a Balinese culture, Bali-style (commonly associated to Hindu temple, Hindu) temple, it serves as the place of worship for adherents of Balinese Hinduism in Indonesia. Puras are built following rules, s ...
s, Ubud
Ubud () is a town in the Gianyar Regency of Bali, Indonesia. Ubud has no status, that is part of the eponymous Ubud District of Gianyar. Promoted as an arts and culture centre, Ubud has developed a large tourism industry. It forms a northern p ...
monkey forest, and Taman Sari in Yogyakarta.
In a wayang
( , ) is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the Indonesian island of Java. The term refers both to the show as a whole and the puppet in particular. Performances of wayang puppet theatre are accompanied by a ''gamel ...
theater story, a snake-like god (nāga) named Sanghyang Anantaboga or Antaboga
Antaboga (; ; ; ), or colloquially also known as the Javan Dragon Snake deity is a Serpent (symbolism), serpent deity in Javanism and Sunda Wiwitan, Sundanism (later also adopted in Balinese Hinduism).
Nomenclature
is a Javanese language, Javan ...
is a guardian deity in the bowels of the earth. nāgas symbolize the nether realm of earth or underworld.
Laos
The Nāga () is believed to live in the Laotian stretch of the Mekong
The Mekong or Mekong River ( , ) is a transboundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth-longest river and the third-longest in Asia with an estimated length of and a drainage area of , discharging of wat ...
or its estuaries. Lao mythology maintains that the nāgas are the protectors of Vientiane
Vientiane (, ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of Laos. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Mekong River at the Thailand, Thai border, it comprises the five urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture and had a population of 840,000 ...
, and by extension, the Lao state. The association with nāgas was most clearly articulated during and immediately after the reign of Anouvong. An important poem from this period ''San Leupphasun'' () discusses relations between Laos and Thailand in a veiled manner, using the Nāga and the Garuḍa
Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu god, Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Hindu, Buddhist mythology, Buddhist, and Jain fai ...
to represent the Lao and the Thai, respectively. The Nāga is incorporated extensively into Lao iconography, and features prominently in Lao culture throughout the length of the country, not only in Vientiane.
Thailand
Phaya Nak or Phaya Nāga (; ; , ''phaya'' derived from Mon which mean ''high nobility'') or Nakkharat (; ) in Thai beliefs, nāgas are considered the patrons of water. Nāgas are believed to live in either water bodies or in caves. According to a popular legend, the Mekong River
The Mekong or Mekong River ( , ) is a transboundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's List of rivers by length, twelfth-longest river and List of longest rivers of Asia, the third-longest in Asia with an estimated l ...
in north-eastern Thailand and Laos
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...
was said to be created by two Nāga kings slithering through the area, thus creating the Mekong and the nearby Nan River. The Mekong is synonymous with the unexplained fireballs phenomenon which has long been believed to be created by the nāgas that dwell in the river. Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths.
In November 2022, the Thai government declared the nāga as the national symbol of Thailand, with the aim of promoting Thai culture and traditions and increasing the country's cultural capital to drive the creative economy. The nāga is a mythical creature with long-standing beliefs and connections to the Thai people, and its designation as a national symbol is a significant step towards preserving and promoting Thai culture. The National Culture Commission and the Fine Arts Department developed a prototype image of the nāga that accurately represents Thai beliefs and traditions related to the creature. The prototype image features the four families of nāgas, each with its unique color, and the largest nāga, Nak Vasuki (), who is related to Buddhism and the Thai monarchy, The nāga is also believed to be a symbol of water and fertility and serves as a guardian of Buddhism.
Due to the strong relation with everything water, the Nāga in Thai belief also plays a role in rain control. The concept of ''Nak hai nam'' (; lit. Nāga granting water) is used for annual rainfall prediction. It is still practiced nowadays, most notably during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Royal Ploughing Ceremony (, ; , ; , ), also known as The Ploughing Festival, is an ancient royal rite held in many Asian countries to mark the traditional beginning of the rice growing season. The royal ploughing ceremony, called (, ) or (), was ...
. The oracle ranges from ''1 nak hai nam'' (1 Nāga granted water); meaning that abundant rainfall should be observed that year, to maximum ''7 nak hai nam'' (7 nagas granted water); meaning there might not be adequate rainfall that year.
In northern Thailand, the Singhanavati Kingdom had a strong connection with nāgas. The kingdom was believed to be built with aids of nāgas, and thus, nāgas were highly revered by the royal family. The kingdom, for a period of time, was renamed ''Yonok Nāga Rāj'' (lit. Yonok the nagaraja)
The nāgas are also highly revered. The Buddhist temple
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhism, Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat, khurul and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in B ...
s and palaces are often adorned with various nāgas. The term ''Nāga'' is also present in various Thai architecture terms including the ''nak sadung'' (นาคสะดุ้ง, the outer roof finial component featuring Nāga-like structure), and the ''nak than'' (นาคทันต์, the corbel
In architecture, a corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal keyed into and projecting from a wall to carry a wikt:superincumbent, bearing weight, a type of bracket (architecture), bracket. A corbel is a solid piece of material in t ...
with Nāga-shape). Moreover, nāgas are sometimes linked to medicine. The nāga Vasuki is present in the legend of the Samudra Manthana
The Samudra Manthana () is a major episode in Hinduism that is elaborated in the Vishnu Purana, a major text of Hinduism. The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of the elixir of eternal life, amrita.
Nomenclature
*Sāgara manthana (साग� ...
, in which Dhanvantari (god of Ayurveda
Ayurveda (; ) is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayur ...
) and amrita
''Amrita'' (, IAST: ''amṛta''), ''Amrit'' or ''Amata'' in Pali language, Pali, (also called ''Sudha'', ''Amiy'', ''Ami'') is a Sanskrit word that means "immortality". It is a central concept within Indian religions and is often referred to i ...
(the elixir of eternal life) were churned from the Ocean of Milk. The nāgas can also be founded substituting the snake
Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...
s in either Rod of Asclepius
In Greek mythology, the Rod of Asclepius (⚕; , , , sometimes also spelled Asklepios), also known as the Staff of Aesculapius and as the asklepian, is a serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius, a deity associated with healing ...
or mistakenly Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
of several medical institutions' symbols. The former seal of Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, and the seal of Society of Medical Student Thailand are some notable examples using the Caduceus with nagas' presence instead of snakes.
Folklore
Thai folklore holds the Phaya nāgas to be semi-divine, demi-creatures, which possess supernatural powers as has been described in Buddhist
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and Hindu cosmology
Hindu cosmology is the description of the universe and its states of matter, cycles within time, physical structure, and effects on living entities according to Hindu texts. Hindu cosmology is also intertwined with the idea of a creator who allo ...
. The " Kamchanod Forest" (ป่าคำชะโนด; ) Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, which is held in high reverence and fear across Thailand, is believed to be the crossroads between the human world and the netherworld, and is frequently depicted in Thai folklore as the site of many hauntings, but more frequently is considered to be the home of the nāga.
According to Shan folklore of Nánzhào Kingdom (now southern China and Southeast Asia during the 8th and 9th centuries, which was centered on present-day Yúnnán in China), the nāga inhabited the Ěrhǎi lake and is the creator of the Mekong
The Mekong or Mekong River ( , ) is a transboundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth-longest river and the third-longest in Asia with an estimated length of and a drainage area of , discharging of wat ...
. In China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, the nāga ( Chinese: 那伽) is generally more considered to be a dragon.
Appearance
Many people, particularly in Isan
Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan language, Isan/, ; ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli ''isāna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thai ...
(the north-eastern region of Thailand), believe that the nāgas are responsible for unnatural wave phenomena occurring in the rivers or lakes in the vicinity. It is also frequently claimed that the serpent-like demigods are responsible for marks on common objects, such as car hoods or house walls.
A police officer has also claimed to be in contact with the nāga, although the implications of this contact is not thoroughly explained.
In attempts to explain these phenomena, scientists and researchers at the Faculty of Science of Chulalongkorn University have attributed these seemingly preternatural phenomena to standing wave
In physics, a standing wave, also known as a stationary wave, is a wave that oscillates in time but whose peak amplitude profile does not move in space. The peak amplitude of the wave oscillations at any point in space is constant with respect t ...
s in water, and posit that the existence of the Phaya Nāga is similar to belief in Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster (), known affectionately as Nessie, is a mythical creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protrud ...
in Scotland or Ogopogo in Canada, and further maintain that the serpent-like tracks of the Phaya Nāga are very possibly forged by humans.
File:NAGA Sculpture - panoramio.jpg, Head of Nāga sculpture in Songkhla Province.
File:Phaya Naga, Mekong's Embankment - panoramio.jpg, A sign featuring Nāgas by the Mekong River
The Mekong or Mekong River ( , ) is a transboundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's List of rivers by length, twelfth-longest river and List of longest rivers of Asia, the third-longest in Asia with an estimated l ...
, Nong Khai Province, Thailand: Nāgas and the Mekong are strongly associated in local beliefs.
File:The English governess at the Siamese court - being recollections of six years in the royal palace at Bangkok (1873) (14589535639).jpg, Illustration of Royal Barge Anantanakkharat, 1873.
File:Royal Barges National Museum - 2014-02-25 - 006.jpg, Royal Barge Anantanakkharat at National Museum of Royal Barges, Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
.
File:Vishnu Kurmavatara and the churning of the milk ocean (3260164288).jpg, Nāga sculpture at Suvarnabhumi airport.
File:IMG 8664 Himmapan Animal Photographed by Trisorn Triboon 02.jpg, Nāga, Himmapan animal on Royal Crematorium King Rama IX.
File:Emerald Buddha Temple - 2017-06-11 (083).jpg, Garuḍa
Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu god, Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Hindu, Buddhist mythology, Buddhist, and Jain fai ...
devouring Nāga, at Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew (, , ), commonly known in English as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and officially as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, is regarded as the most sacred Wat, Buddhist temple in Thailand. The complex consists of a number of buildings ...
.
Malaysia
In Malay and Orang Asli traditions, the lake Chini, located in Pahang
{{Infobox political division
, name = Pahang
, official_name = Pahang Darul Makmur
, native_name =
, settlement_type = States and federal territories of Malaysia, State
, image_skyline =
, imagesize ...
is home to a nāga called Sri Gumum. Depending on legend versions, her predecessor Sri Pahang or her son left the lake and later fought a nāga called Sri Kemboja. Kemboja is the Malay name for Cambodia. Like the nāga-legends there, there are stories about an ancient empire in lake Chini, although the stories are not linked to the nāga-legends.
Philippines
The indigenous Bakunawa, a serpent-like moon-eating creature in Philippine mythology, was syncretized with the nāga. It is believed to be the cause of eclipses
An eclipse is an astronomical event which occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ...
, earthquake
An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...
s, rains, and wind. The movements of the ''bakunawa'' served as a geomantic calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months and years. A calendar date, date is the designation of a single and specific day within such a system. A calendar is ...
system for ancient Filipinos and were part of the shamanistic rituals of the '' babaylan''. It is usually depicted with a characteristically looped tail and was variously believed to inhabit either the sea, the sky, or the underworld
The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld.
...
.
However, the bakunawa may have also syncretized with the Hindu deities, Rahu and Ketu, the navagraha
The navagraha are nine heavenly bodies and deities that influence human life on Earth according to Hinduism and Hindu mythology. The term is derived from ''nava'' ( "nine") and ''graha'' ( "planet, seizing, laying hold of, holding"). The nine part ...
of eclipses
An eclipse is an astronomical event which occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ...
.
Examples
* Shesha, on whom Vishnu
Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
is in yoga nidra (Anantashayana)
* Antaboga
Antaboga (; ; ; ), or colloquially also known as the Javan Dragon Snake deity is a Serpent (symbolism), serpent deity in Javanism and Sunda Wiwitan, Sundanism (later also adopted in Balinese Hinduism).
Nomenclature
is a Javanese language, Javan ...
, the world serpent in Javanese and Balinese mythology of Indonesia, who created the World Turtle
The World Turtle, also called the Cosmic Turtle or the World-Bearing Turtle, is a mytheme of a giant turtle (or tortoise) supporting or containing Religious cosmology, the world. It occurs in Hinduism, Chinese mythology, and the mythologies of th ...
Bedawang, on whose back the world resides
* Apalala, Nāga in Buddhist mythology
* Bakunawa, a dragon in Philippine mythology that is often represented as a gigantic sea serpent. Nāgas are also present in Kapampangan polytheistic beliefs, such as Lakandanum. (See Deities of Philippine mythology
The following is a list of gods, goddesses, deities, and many other divine, semi-divine, and important figures from Philippine mythology, classical Philippine mythology and indigenous Philippine folk religions collectively referred to as Anito, D ...
.)
* Kaliya
Kaliya ( IAST: Kāliya, Devanagari: कालिय), in Hindu traditions, was a venomous Nāga living in the Yamunā river, in Vṛndāvana. The water of the Yamunā for four leagues all around him boiled and bubbled with poison. No bir ...
, a snake conquered by Krishna
Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...
* Karkotaka, a nāga king in Indian mythology who controls weather, that lived in a forest near Nishadha Kingdom
The Nishadha
(IAST: Niṣadha) was a tribe of ancient India that lived in a country of the same name.
History
Veerasena was a king of the Nishadha kingdom, and the father of Nala. Nala, the son of Veerasena, became the king after his father. He ...
and stung Nala
Nala () is a legendary king of ancient Nishadha kingdom and the central protagonist of the '' Nalopakhyana'', a sub-narrative within the Indian epic '' Mahabharata'', found in its third book, '' Vana Parva'' (Book of the Forest). He is renown ...
at the request of Indra
* Paravataksha, his sword causes earthquakes and his roar caused thunder.
* Manasa, the Hindu goddess of nāgas and curer of snake-bite and sister of Vasuki
* Mucalinda, a nāga in Buddhism who protected the Gautama Buddha from the elements after his enlightenment
* Naga Seri Gumum, who lives in Tasik Chini, a freshwater lake in Pahang, Malaysia
* Padmavati, the Nāgī queen & companion of Dharanendra
* Shwe Nabay (''Naga Medaw''), a goddess or a Nat spirit in Burmese animistic mythology, who is believed to have married a nāga and died from heartbreak after he left her
* Takshaka, the king of the nāgas, and ruler of Khandava forest
The Khandava Forest or Khandava Vana (Sanskrit: खाण्डव वन, ) or Khandavaprastha (; ) is a forest mentioned in the epic ''Mahabharata, Mahābhārata.'' It lay to the west of Yamuna river. The Pandava, Pandavas are described to have ...
* Ulupi, a wife of Arjuna
Arjuna (, , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, �ɾd͡ʒun̪ə is one of the central characters of the ancient Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is the third of the five Pandava brothers, and is widely regarded as the most important and renowned among them. ...
in the epic
Epic commonly refers to:
* Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation
* Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale
Epic(s) ...
''Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
''
* Vasuki, the king of nāgas and who coils over Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
's neck and offered to serve as the rope to pull Mount Mandara in the Samudra Manthana
The Samudra Manthana () is a major episode in Hinduism that is elaborated in the Vishnu Purana, a major text of Hinduism. The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of the elixir of eternal life, amrita.
Nomenclature
*Sāgara manthana (साग� ...
(Churning of the Ocean of Milk) to release the amrita
''Amrita'' (, IAST: ''amṛta''), ''Amrit'' or ''Amata'' in Pali language, Pali, (also called ''Sudha'', ''Amiy'', ''Ami'') is a Sanskrit word that means "immortality". It is a central concept within Indian religions and is often referred to i ...
(nectar of the immortality).
* Yulong, the Dragon King of the West Sea in the Chinese classical novel ''Journey to the West
''Journey to the West'' () is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is regarded as one of the Classic Chinese Novels, great Chinese novels, and has been described as arguably the ...
'', becomes a nāga after completing his journey with Xuanzang
Xuanzang (; ; 6 April 6025 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (), also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making ...
In popular culture
Film and television
* Several Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
films have been made about female nāgas, including ''Nagin'' (1954), ''Nagin'' (1976), ''Nagina'' (1986), ''Nigahen'' (1989), ''Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani'' (2002), and ''Hisss'' (2010). Nāga also appear in television series such as ''Naaginn'' (2007-2009), ''Naagin'' (2015) and Adhuri Kahaani Hamari (2015-2016).
* In the 1998 film '' Jungle Boy'', the Naga is depicted as a large cobra
COBRA or Cobra, often stylized as CoBrA, was a European avant-garde art group active from 1948 to 1951. The name was coined in 1948 by Christian Dotremont from the initials of the members' home countries' capital cities: Copenhagen (Co), Brussels ...
deity that grants the gift of understanding all languages to those who are pure of heart and punishes those who are not pure of heart in different ways.
*In the 1999 Telugu film ''Devi'', a Nagini played by Prema comes to Earth to protect a woman who saves her when she was in the snake form. She eventually falls in love with a human.
* The Nagas are antagonists in the cartoon ''The Secret Saturdays
''The Secret Saturdays'' is an American animated television series created by Canadian cartoonist Jay Stephens and produced by PorchLight Entertainment for Cartoon Network. It debuted on October 3, 2008, in the United States. The series follows ...
''. They served the ancient Sumerian cryptid
Cryptids are animals or other beings whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science. Cryptozoology, the study of cryptids, is a pseudoscience claiming that such beings may exist somewhere in the wild; it has been widely cri ...
Kur and attempted to push Zak Saturday into the dark side after learning that he was Kur reincarnated, but eventually served V. V. Argost when he gained his own Kur powers.
* Many lakorn (Thai television soap operas) are based on a Phaya Naga legend, such as '' Poot Mae Nam Khong'' (ภูติแม่น้ำโขง) in 2008, ''Manisawat'' (มณีสวาท) in 2013, or ''Nakee'' (นาคี) in 2016.
* A search for the Phaya Naga was featured in a '' Destination Truth'' episode on the SyFy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel) series in Series 01 (episode 02).
* The dragons in the 2021 film '' Raya and the Last Dragon'' are based on the Phaya Naga.
* A serpent god named Nāga is featured in the 2021 animated film '' Batman: Soul of the Dragon''.
* They are featured Pakistani movies like ''Naag aur Nagin'' (2005)
Literature
*Nāga are featured in '' The Silent Bells'', the fourth book in N. D. Wilson's '' Ashtown Burials'' series.
*The Japanese anime and manga series, ''Slayers
is a Japanese light novel series written by Hajime Kanzaka and illustrated by Rui Araizumi. The novels have been serialized in ''Dragon Magazine (Fujimi Shobo), Dragon Magazine'' since 1989, before being published into indi ...
'' (1989), has a principal character named Naga the Serpent (introduced in 1990).
*In J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World, Nagini is one of Voldemort
Lord Voldemort ( , in the films) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the ''Harry Potter'' series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He first appears in '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (1997) and returns either in pe ...
's horcruxes in the ''Harry Potter
''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...
'' series and a Maledictus, a carrier of blood curse, in the 2018 film '' Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald''. Her curse allows her to change into a snake and back into a human, but her snake form eventually becomes permanent.
*In the Xanth series by Piers Anthony
Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934) is an American author in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. He is best known for his long-running novel series set in the fictional realm of Xan ...
, the Naga are a race of human-headed serpents that can transform between fully human and serpent forms, including any species and size of snake.
*In The God in the Bowl, one of the original Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero created by American author Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) and who debuted in 1932 and went on to appear in a series of fantasy stories published in ''We ...
stories by Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard (January 22, 1906 – June 11, 1936) was an American writer who wrote pulp magazine, pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. He created the character Conan the Barbarian and is regarded as the father of the sword and sor ...
, the titular God is possibly a Nāga-like creature.
Games
* “Naga” is name of a T1 battle cruiser in '' EVE Online ''. Shown as a long, thin hull, and used for long range attacks.
* Nagas appear in the ''Dungeons & Dragons
''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...
'' roleplaying game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, eith ...
, depicted as massive serpents with human heads.
* The Nagas appear in the multiple franchises by Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is an American video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher based in Irvine, California, and a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard. Originally founded in 1991, the company is best known for producing the h ...
. In ''Warcraft
''Warcraft'' is a franchise of video games, novels, and other media created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series is made up of six core games: '' Warcraft: Orcs & Humans'', '' Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness'', '' Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos ...
'', they are depicted as ancient night elves that have snake-like tails in place of legs, and have other serpentine or aquatic features such as scales and fins. The Nagas came to be when they were transformed from the ancient night elves by the Old Gods. Their queen Azshara is described as a demigoddess. The digital card game ''Hearthstone
''Hearthstone'' is a 2014 Online game, online digital collectible card game, digital collectible card video game produced by Blizzard Entertainment, released under the free-to-play model. Originally subtitled ''Heroes of Warcraft'', ''Hearthsto ...
'' incorporated Naga as a minion type in its Battlegrounds game mode on May 10, 2022.
* Nagas also appear in ''The Battle for Wesnoth
''The Battle for Wesnoth'' is a free and open-source software, free and open-source turn-based strategy video game with a high fantasy setting (similar to J. R. R. Tolkien's Tolkien's legendarium, legendarium), designed by Australian-American d ...
'', and are depicted as a more snakelike counterpart to the merfolk, who are often their enemies.
* '' Magic: The Gathering'' 2014–2015 block, set on the plane of Tarkir, featured Naga as humanoid snakes versed in powerful venoms and poisons with two arms and no other appendages. They are aligned with the Sultai clan in the sets, '' Khans of Tarkir'' and '' Fate Reforged'', and with the Silumgar clan in the '' Dragons of Tarkir'' set.
* Nagas are units in Heroes of Might and Magic III
''Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia'' (commonly referred to as ''Heroes of Might & Magic 3'', or ''Heroes 3'', or abbreviated HoMM 3) is a turn-based strategy game developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Comput ...
.
* '' Gigabash'' features Rawa, a bipedal Phaya Naga inspired kaiju
is a Japanese term that is commonly associated with media involving giant monsters. Its widespread contemporary use is credited to ''tokusatsu'' (special effects) director Eiji Tsuburaya and filmmaker Ishirō Honda, who popularized the ''kaiju'' ...
among its playable cast of creatures.
Gallery
Bhuvanesvar.jpg, Nāga and Nagini in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar () is the capital and the largest city of the States and territories of India, Indian state of Odisha. It is located in the Khordha district. The suburban region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Chakra ...
, Odisha
Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...
Nagas on copper pillar, Kullu, H.P..jpg, Nāga on copper pillar in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh India
The Naga King Dasavatara Temple.jpg, Nāga king in Anjali mudra in Deogarh temple, Madhya Pradesh
File:Maninaga and Svastika. Kushan period, 2nd century CE, Rajgir.jpg, Maninaga and Svastika. Kushan period, 2nd century CE, Rajgir, Bihar
Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
401 CE Udayagiri Varaha Relief annotated.jpg, Nāga (marked 15) in the Varaha panel at Udayagiri Caves
The Udayagiri Caves are twenty rock-cut caves near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh primarily denoted to the Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva from the early years of the 3rd century CE to 5th century CE. They contain some of the oldest surviving Hindu templ ...
Digambara Parshivanatha 24th Jain Digambara Teertankara.jpg, Tirthankara Parshvanatha of Jainism standing under Nāga hood
KITLV 28223 - Isidore van Kinsbergen - Linggam and Ioni at Yogyakarta - 1865-07-1865-09.tif, Nāga supporting waterspout of Yoni-Lingam, Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is the capital city of the Special Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, in the south-central part of the island of Java. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by Hamengkubuwono, a monarchy, Yogyakarta is regarded as an importan ...
Java, c. 9th century
098 Naga Temple from North-East (25559532977).jpg, Nāga temple, Penataran, East Java
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary - panoramio (6).jpg, Nāga bridge at Ubud
Ubud () is a town in the Gianyar Regency of Bali, Indonesia. Ubud has no status, that is part of the eponymous Ubud District of Gianyar. Promoted as an arts and culture centre, Ubud has developed a large tourism industry. It forms a northern p ...
monkey forest, Bali
Laonaga.jpg, Nāga guarding Anouvong's Wat Sisaket in Vientiane
Vientiane (, ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of Laos. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Mekong River at the Thailand, Thai border, it comprises the five urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture and had a population of 840,000 ...
2008.02.15 Kjerning på Sawasdee flyplass i Bangkok I.JPG, Sesa Nāga at Bangkok international airport, Thailand
Naga at the funeral of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in 2017.jpg, Nāga at the funeral of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej (5 December 192713 October 2016), titled Rama IX, was King of Thailand from 1946 until Death and funeral of Bhumibol Adulyadej, his death in 2016. His reign of 70 years and 126 days is the longest of any List of Thai mo ...
of Thailand in 2017
See also
* Ichchadhari naag and naagin (shape-shifting cobra)
* Lamia
* List of Nāgas
* Mahoraga
* Naga Kingdom
* Naga people (Lanka)
* Nagarjuna
Nāgārjuna (Sanskrit: नागार्जुन, ''Nāgārjuna''; ) was an Indian monk and Mahayana, Mahāyāna Buddhist Philosophy, philosopher of the Madhyamaka (Centrism, Middle Way) school. He is widely considered one of the most importa ...
* Nagvanshi
* Naga Viper pepper
* Phra Lak Phra Lam
* Rocket Festival
A rocket (from , and so named for its shape) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely fr ...
* Serpent (symbolism)
* Snake worship
* Vritra
Vritra (, , ) is a danava in Hinduism. He serves as the personification of drought, and is an adversary of the king of the devas, Indra. As a danava, he belongs to the race of the asuras. Vritra is also known in the Vedas as Ahi ( ). He appe ...
Explanatory notes
References
Further reading
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External links
Nagiana
(a site dedicated to Nāga ancestors)
Image of a Seven-Headed Nāga
nagas and Serpents
in the area of Angkor Wat in Cambodia
nagas and Naginis: Serpent Figures in Hinduism and Buddhism
Mekong River Commission paper on eels
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naga
Anthropomorphic snakes
Indian dragons
Buddhist deities
Dragon deities
Hindu deities
Legendary creatures in Hindu mythology
Hindu snake worship
Mythological human–animal hybrids
Legendary serpents
Sea and river gods
Shapeshifters
Snake deities
Tutelary deities
Water spirits
Snake gods
National symbols of Thailand
Chthonic beings