nāga

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 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 and Buddhism.

'' 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 Asian and Southeast Asian 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 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) 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 and in the Swayambhu Purana of Kathmandu, 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, and the Puranas 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, they often take the role of benevolent protagonists: in the Samudra Manthana, Vasuki, a nagaraja who abides on Shiva's neck, became the churning rope for churning of the Ocean of Milk. Their eternal archrival is the Garuḍa, the legendary semi-divine bird-like deity.

Vishnu 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 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'' 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 Devi Bhagavata Purana 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.

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 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, or a terma that had been elementally encoded by adepts. In Tibetan Buddhism, 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 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, Nāgāsēna, and, although other etymons are assigned to his name, Nāgārjuna.

Literature

The Nāga Saṃyutta of the Pali Canon consists of suttas specifically devoted to explaining nature of the nāgas.

In the "Devadatta" chapter of the ''Lotus Sutra'', 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 literature, nāgas are portrayed as guardians or owners of submerged treasure, which can be mere wealth or supernatural, "spiritual" treasures.

Other traditions

In Thailand and Java, the nāga is a wealthy underworld deity. For Malay sailors, nāgas are a type of dragon with many heads. In Laos they are beaked water serpents. In Tibet, 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 were believed to be an ancient tribe and origins of Sri Lanka. According to V. Kanakasabhai, the Oliyar, Parathavar, Maravar, and Eyinar, who were widespread across South India and North-East Sri Lanka, are all Naga tribes. There are references to them in several ancient texts such as Mahavamsa, Manimekalai, and also in other Sanskrit and Pali literature. 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 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 (, ).
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 and Angkor 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, Cambodian 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. 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; (left Vishnu, middle Shiva, right Brahma) and the three realms - heaven (devas' realm), earth (mortal realm), and hell (norok realm). In Buddhism, the central head represents Buddha, the right Dharma 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 river, Yamuna river, Brahmaputra river (Brahma's Son River), Sarasvati river). In Buddhism, the 5 heads represent the 5 Buddhas - Kadabak, Kunsontho, Koneakumno, Samnak Koudom Gautama Buddha, and Seare Metrey.
;7-headed Muchlentak: Originated from the Himalayas, they bring peace and prosperity to humans. They control the seven oceans and seven mountains called 'Seytontaraksatakboriphorn.' Sheltered Gautama Buddha 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. 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 (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'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 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, Indonesia, a nāga is depicted as a crowned, giant, magical serpent, sometimes winged. It is similarly derived from the Shiva-Hinduism tradition, merged with Javanese animism. 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, 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 cobras. During this period, nāga-serpents were depicted as giant cobras supporting the waterspout of yoni-lingam. The examples of nāga-sculpture can be found in several Javanese candis, including Prambanan, 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 Balinese tradition, nāgas are often depicted battling garuḍas. Intricately carved nāgas are found as stairs railings in bridges or stairs, such as those found in Balinese temples, Ubud monkey forest, and Taman Sari in Yogyakarta.

In a wayang theater story, a snake-like god (nāga) named Sanghyang Anantaboga or Antaboga 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 or its estuaries. Lao mythology maintains that the nāgas are the protectors of Vientiane, 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 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 in north-eastern Thailand and Laos 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. 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 temples 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 with Nāga-shape). Moreover, nāgas are sometimes linked to medicine. The nāga Vasuki is present in the legend of the Samudra Manthana, in which Dhanvantari (god of Ayurveda) and amrita (the elixir of eternal life) were churned from the Ocean of Milk. The nāgas can also be founded substituting the snakes in either Rod of Asclepius or mistakenly Caduceus 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 and Hindu cosmology. 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. In China, the nāga ( Chinese: 那伽) is generally more considered to be a dragon.

Appearance

Many people, particularly in Isan (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 waves in water, and posit that the existence of the Phaya Nāga is similar to belief in Loch Ness Monster 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, 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.
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 devouring Nāga, at Wat Phra Kaew.

Malaysia

In Malay and Orang Asli traditions, the lake Chini, located in Pahang 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, earthquakes, rains, and wind. The movements of the ''bakunawa'' served as a geomantic calendar 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.
However, the bakunawa may have also syncretized with the Hindu deities, Rahu and Ketu, the navagraha of eclipses.

Examples

* Shesha, on whom Vishnu is in yoga nidra (Anantashayana)
* Antaboga, the world serpent in Javanese and Balinese mythology of Indonesia, who created the World Turtle 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.)
* Kaliya, a snake conquered by Krishna
* Karkotaka, a nāga king in Indian mythology who controls weather, that lived in a forest near Nishadha Kingdom and stung Nala 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
* Ulupi, a wife of Arjuna in the epic ''Mahabharata''
* Vasuki, the king of nāgas and who coils over Shiva's neck and offered to serve as the rope to pull Mount Mandara in the Samudra Manthana (Churning of the Ocean of Milk) to release the amrita (nectar of the immortality).
* Yulong, the Dragon King of the West Sea in the Chinese classical novel ''Journey to the West'', becomes a nāga after completing his journey with Xuanzang

In popular culture

Film and television

* Several Bollywood 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 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''. They served the ancient Sumerian cryptid 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'' (1989), has a principal character named Naga the Serpent (introduced in 1990).
*In J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World, Nagini is one of Voldemort's horcruxes in the ''Harry Potter'' 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, 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 stories by Robert E. Howard, 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'' roleplaying game, depicted as massive serpents with human heads.
* The Nagas appear in the multiple franchises by Blizzard Entertainment. In ''Warcraft'', 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'' incorporated Naga as a minion type in its Battlegrounds game mode on May 10, 2022.
* Nagas also appear in ''The Battle for Wesnoth'', 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.
* '' Gigabash'' features Rawa, a bipedal Phaya Naga inspired kaiju among its playable cast of creatures.

Gallery

Bhuvanesvar.jpg, Nāga and Nagini in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
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
401 CE Udayagiri Varaha Relief annotated.jpg, Nāga (marked 15) in the Varaha panel at Udayagiri Caves
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 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 monkey forest, Bali
Laonaga.jpg, Nāga guarding Anouvong's Wat Sisaket in Vientiane
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 of Thailand in 2017

See also

* Ichchadhari naag and naagin (shape-shifting cobra)
* Lamia
* List of Nāgas
* Mahoraga
* Naga Kingdom
* Naga people (Lanka)
* Nagarjuna
* Nagvanshi
* Naga Viper pepper
* Phra Lak Phra Lam
* Rocket Festival
* Serpent (symbolism)
* Snake worship
* Vritra

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 BuddhismMekong 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