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The Naga
The word Naga is one of the few words left from the Universal Language. To use a quote from Lodge Ramsey..."It is an old Sanskrit word that means 'serpent'. In the beliefs of those in East India it is connected with the Dragon Spirit." There are differing beliefs concerning them, but all agree that the word Naga means 'one who is wise'.
This is another fine example of dragons who are not cruel, or murderous, but are wise in the ways of the universe. The more heads a Naga has, the wiser it is. (Sounds much like the Hydra of Greek legend, only not quite so bloodthirsty. :)
Nagas are serpent-beings and are from the species Serpent-Dragon who live in a city called Bhogavati/Naga-loka, or Patala-loka in the netherworld. The entrance to this grand city is supposed to be marked by ant-hills, although it is also said to be high atop Mount Meru. In the center of their garden stands a tree of life and reincarnation guarded by an actual dragon. Brahma is said to have relegated the nagas to the nether regions when they became too populous on earth and to have commanded them to bite only the truly evil or those destined to die prematurely. Vasuki is their king. He possesses a gem on his head that can cure all diseases and gives good fortune. Vishnu himself is said to sleep on the coils of the 'serpent' Ananta who holds up the earth. Female Nagas are said to be beautiful beyond description, and many families with prestigious lineage claim to be descended from them.
Nagas control fertility and are worshipped by farmers and women alike. They are said to protect springs, wells, rivers, and even to bring rain, which in India is a much needed commodity. When annoyed, they have been known to create pestilence, drought, and great suffering to the humans. The Malay mariners believe the Naga to be many-headed dragons of enormous size, while in Java and Thailand they are considered dragons who possess immense wealth. In Thailand they often show Nagas as a dragon with five heads, and they are thought to be a symbol of Narayana . They are also in close association with the Chinese Emperor as the "Son of Heaven", and some Chinese claim to not only be descendents of them, but they say they even speak their language - Naga-Krita! To the Chinese and Mexicans they are known as 'Nagal', Tibetans call them Lu, and those from Java call them Sesa. The Egyptians show Nagas as "King-Initiates". Although most pictures and carvings present Nagas as having human upper torsos and snake-like lower ones, they are also seen with several serpent heads and a lower half that is human.
Naga legends:
Sesha*Ananta,The Endless One*
Sesha, chief of the Nagas, is said to be a thousand-headed snake god, although in some myths it is only eleven heads. He was said to have been born from the mouth of Balarama just before his death. He is the one who guards Vishnu as he sleeps upon his coils. He is a symbol of cosmic energy and eternity.
Vasuki
Vasuki was a serpent-dragon who was used as a churning rope to churn the cosmic ocean of milk. He is often mixed in mythology with Sesha.
Vritra *Vrtra, The Enveloper*
This serpent-dragon was coiled around the navel of the earth, thus blocking all the water. He was huge and greedy, and is the only Naga to be shown as a 'hoarding' dragon. He was killed by Indra to release the waters and create the world-mountains.
Myth Of Vitra
"In the 'Rig Veda', one of the oldest and most important of the four 'Vedas' or sacred texts of Hinduism, Vritra was a terrible fiend who gathered all the waters of the world into himself and cause a drought to cover the whole earth. The world became a wasteland. In a distant land, he hid in his fortress, hording his treasure so that the world drew ever more parched. Finally, Indra, who would become the king of the gods, was born. He took it upon himself to attack the demon and release the waters. Drinking immense amounts of Soma to give him the strength necessary, he set off to find his foe. First Indra stormed Vritra's ninety-nine fortresses, razing each in turn, then he met Vritra himself. The two fought a terrible battle, and in the end, Vritra was destroyed by Indra's thunderbolt. Indra then released the waters to flow back to the world."
From the Encyclopedia Mythica Article copyright © MCMXCIX Encyclopedia Mythica.
Manasa
This serpent-dragon was a fertility goddess and protector against snakebites.
The Naga are not terrible monsters and creatures of horror, but they are caring and giving anf above all they are wise. Their wisdom is what sets them apart from the fire-breathing monsters of Europe and the five-footed dragons of the Chinese Emperors. The Naga are wise and teach their wisdom to others as they reach the age of wisdom. The youngest of the Naga are seen as Dragons of the winds, storms, and ever changing weather. As they mature they are regarded as elemental dragons of the water. The oldest among them are the Spirit/Creation dragons, peaceful and wise are they. The Naga are seen in much of the art of India. Serpents and dragon-like creatures are quite prevalent, look closely because in this art you may just find, the soul of a dragon.
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