What is a naga?
The nagas are a race of serpent gods or serpent spirits in Indian mythology. The Sanskrit word means “snake,” especially a cobra. They are depicted with a human upper body and a snake’s lower body, or as huge cobras with several heads. They were thought to live underground or in water, guard treasure, and control rain and water.
Nagas in Buddhism
The nagas were also adopted into Buddhism as protectors of the Dharma. A famous story tells that after the Buddha attained enlightenment, a violent storm arose while he was meditating, and the naga king Mucalinda coiled around the Buddha’s body for seven days, spreading his hoods to shield him from the wind and rain. When Buddhism reached China, nagas were translated as “dragons,” leading to the dragon god worship familiar in Japan, such as the “Eight Great Dragon Kings.” They can be called one of the roots of the dragon.
Nagas in Southeast Asia
Naga worship spread widely across Southeast Asia. At temples such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, many-headed naga sculptures serve as balustrades and are said to represent a rainbow bridge linking heaven and earth. In Laos and Thailand, legends say a giant naga lives in the Mekong River, and they are still told today during festivals.
