Nagas belong to which realm?

[hope rainbow]

Nagas belong to which realm?
-Spirits?
-Animals?
-Gods?
-...?

From Wikipedia:

Traditions about n?gas are very common in all the Buddhist countries of Asia.

In many countries, the n?ga concept has been merged with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons. In Tibet, the n?ga was equated with the klu, wits that dwell in lakes or underground streams and guard treasure. In China, the n?ga was equated with the lóng or Chinese dragon.

The Buddhist n?ga generally has the form of a great cobra-like snake, usually with a single head but sometimes with many. At least some of the n?gas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human semblance.

In Buddhist painting, the n?ga is sometimes portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head. One n?ga, in human form, attempted to become a monk; when telling it that such ordination was impossible, the Buddha told it how to ensure that it would be reborn a man, able to become a monk.

In the 'Devadatta' chapter of the Lotus Sutra, an eight year old female Naga, after listening to Manjushri preach the Lotus Sutra, transforms her body into that of a male human and immediately reaches full enlightenment.

N?gas are believed to both live on Mount Sumeru, 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 sea; others are earth-dwellers, living in underground caverns.

The n?gas are the servants of Vir?p?k?a, one of the Four Heavenly Kings who guards the western direction. They act as a guard upon Mount Sumeru, protecting the devas of Tr?yastri??a from attack by the Asuras.

Among the notable n?gas of Buddhist tradition is Mucalinda, protector of the Buddha.
In the Vinaya Sutra the Buddha shortly after his enlightenment is meditating in a forest when a great storm arises, but graciously Naga King Mucalinda gives shelter to the Buddha from the storm by covering the Buddha's head with his 7 snake heads.

It is noteworthy that the 2 chief disciples of the Buddha, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana are referred to as Mahanaga.

In the Vajrayana and Mahasiddha traditions according to Beer (1999), many notable fully enlightened nagas also transmitted and/or transported terma into and out of the human realm that had been elementally encoded by adepts.

Norbu (1999) states that according to tradition the Prajnaparamita terma teachings are held to have been conferred upon Nagarjuna by Nagaraja, the King of the nagas, who had been guarding them at the bottom of a lake.

[Ensapa]

Nagas actually are considered within the animal realm.
Here is another writeup on them:

The word Naga comes from the Sanskrit, and nag is still the word for snake, especially the cobra, in most of the languages of India. When we come upon the word in Buddhist writings, it is not always clear whether the term refers to a cobra, an elephant (perhaps this usage relates to its snake-like trunk, or the pachyderm's association with forest-dwelling peoples of north-eastern India called Nagas,) or even a mysterious person of nobility.  It is a term used for unseen beings associated with water and fluid energy, and also with persons having powerful animal-like qualities or conversely, an impressive animal with human qualities.

 How the inhabitants of Nagaland came to the world's attention during WW2.
Mythology

In myths, legends, scripture and folklore, the category naga comprises all kinds of serpentine beings.  Under this rubric are snakes, usually of the python kind (despite the fact that naga is usually taken literally to refer to a cobra,) deities of the primal ocean and of mountain springs; also spirits of earth and the realm beneath it, and finally, dragons.

In Indian mythology, Nagas are primarily serpent-beings living under the sea.  However, Varuna, the Vedic god of storms, is viewed as the King of the Nagas, ie. Nagarajah.

Here we see the king and queen of water nagas worshipping Parshva, the Jain Tirthankara of the era before this one.

All nagas are considered the offspring of the Rishi or sage, Kasyapa, the son of Marichi.  Kashyapa is said to have had by his twelve wives, other diverse progeny including reptiles, birds, and all sorts of living beings. They are denizens of the netherworld city called Bhogavati.  It is believed that ant-hills mark its entrance.

The naga -Varuna connection is retained in Tibetan Buddhism, where Varuna, lord of weather, is known as Apalala Nagarajah.

As a category of nature spirit:

"Nagas [kLu] are a class of beings (often snake-like in form) that dwell in a variety of locations ranging from waterways and underground locations and also in unseen realms. These beings have their own perceptions and vary in their enlightened level as do humans and other beings. Nagas are susceptible to suffering created by mankind's carelessness and basic ignorance of proper conduct in nature and disrespectful actions in relation to our environment. Therefore Nagas often retaliate towards humans when they behave in such ignorant manners. The expression of the Nagas' discontent and agitation can be felt as skin diseases, various calamities and so forth.

Additionally, Nagas can bestow various types of wealth, assure fertility of crops and the environment as well as decline these blessings. For this reason the practice of Lu Sang has been developed or arises as a natural method to increase prosperity, and assist the Nagas by preserving the positive qualities of their natural environment." ~ Tsewang Ngodrup Rinpoche

The bodhisattva Manjushri, in wrathful form, can appear as Nagaraksha (Tib: jam.pal lu'i drag.po).

Nagas and Water

Water symbolizes primordial Wisdom and in psychoanalysis, the storehouse that is the unconscious mind.  However, to paraphrase Sigmund Freud commenting on the interpretation of symbols in dreams, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."  That is, the water in naga lore is really wet.

In the language of Kashmir, the word for "a spring" is naga and, in fact, nagas are considered the earliest inhabitants of that region.  In a sense this is borne out by geology since that valley was once

"a vast span of water, similar to a huge dam, walled in by high mountains. The Nilamatapurana records how the valley was elevated out of water and left under the care of the Nagas, of whom Nila, the son of Kashyapa, was the chief."  Kashmir is named after Kashyapa where "the term ‘naga’ stands for spring; 'chesmah,' and 'negin' for small spring.  Springs are the main source of water in Kashmir."  And "the auspicious and famous river of Kashmir, the Vitasta (Jhelum) originates from a spring near Verinag and is responsible for the water supply to most parts of the valley.  The religious significance of the river is established by the Nilamata Purana [Myth of the Indigo Goddess] when it records the entire land of Kashmir as the material manifestation of Uma and describes her as the divine form of the Vitasta."

"A large number of temples were built near springs and were dedicated to the worship of nagas."  and   "These places have become great centres of religious pilgrimage. The place names of certain areas, e.g. Verinag, Anantnag and Seshanag even today remind one of the intimate relations between the valley and the popularity of the Naga cult.  The Rajatarangini of Kalhana mentions Sushravas and Padma Nagas, who were tutelary deities connected with the Wular lake. The Dikpalas of Kashmir are believed to be four nagas, viz. Bindusara in the east, Srimadaka in the south, Elapatra in the west and Uttarmansa in the north."

Many Kashmiri festivals relate to Naga worship, "for example during the first snowfall, Nila, the Lord of Nagas, is worshipped.  The Nagas are also propitiated in April and are related to Iramanjari Puja and to Varuna Panchmi, which is organised in July-August."   And "in the darker half of the month of Jyeshtha, when a big festival is organised to propitiate the king Taksakyatra. The Nilamatapurana listed 527 Nagas that were worshipped in Kashmir. In the account of Abul Fazal, the court historian of Akbar, there are references to seven hundred places sacred to serpents."

The purana also points to the association of the cult of Nagas with that of Shiva.  In the Mahabharata and Harivamsa texts, Shesha was considered the son of Shiva.  A lesser relation was developed with regard to Vishnu as in his sheshashayi form which links the primal waters with the sleeping Vishnu.  Also, Balarama who is Krishna's elder brother is the personification of the snake, Ananta. 

Kashmiri names such as Vishnasar and Krishnasar are Vaishnavite ones where the suffix sar means 'reservoir.'  Even though Kashmir may be Muslim-dominated in contemporary times, a spring is  "understood as naga and enjoys the respect of every religion."

"The prosperity goddess, Lakshmi, is said to have taken the form of the river Visoka (now known as the Vishov) to purify the people of Kashmir. Most probably, treating springs and rivers with great reverence wittingly or unwittingly resulted in the ecological balance necessary for a healthy and natural interaction between the environment and man." 

" . . . every naga has a snake as its guardian deity. Fishing is prohibited in these springs, though the fish which come out of the main garbha [den, lair] of a naga can be caught.  Restrictions on fishing have definitely helped to some extent to preserve water ecology."

"Hindus still propitiate these nagas. At Martanda Naga even srada is performed. Water is offered by Hindus to the Sun God and to their ancestors (purvaj).  Before having darshan of the snow linga at Amarnatha a holy dip is essential in the Seshanaga.  A person suffering from a skin disease is said to be cured after having a bath in Gandhakanaga (sulphur spring) at Naghbal, Anantnag."

"Muslims show their respect for these nagas in many ways. They offer sacrifices and organise fairs on many festivals such as Id, [e]ven they do not catch fish in these nagas. Their faith in nagas can further be established by an example from Anantnag district, where during days of water scarcity or extra rainfall, people offer sacrifices to the Vasuk Naga (the water of which remains in the valley during summer only and disappears in winter.)  They have full faith that offerings to Vasuk will bring rain or stop it as desired."

~ B. Malla,  Water Resources and Their Management in Kashmir

In Thai symbolism, naga and makara are closely linked.
Catalogue of nagas, their names and attributes, from the Nilamata Purana.
Times Asia, "Secret of the Naga's fire"
Glycon, (3rd-C.  CE) the naga worshiped in Dacia at Tomis, now in Romania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naga Mythology

Vasuki [also Basuki,] the naga king, has the gem, Nagamani, on/in his head.  It is a universal panacea [cure-all] and is a bestower of fortune. 

Manasa Devi, the serpent goddess, is Vasuki's sister.  She is mostly identified with the cobra, but she can cure any snakebite; indeed, any adversity.  A popular Indian film shows Manasa coming to visit a man in his prison cell.  She drinks his offering of milk, then leaves, opening the cell for him on her way out.

Now the maternal naga ancestor, Kadru, once enslaved Vinata, mother of birds.  To ransom her, the Garuda stole amrita, the elixir of immortality, from the gods. Before the serpents could even have a taste, Indra stole it back again, however, a few drops of amrita fell to earth.  The serpents slid through it which is why their skin now has the capacity of renewal.

The grass upon which the nectar fell explains why serpents have forked tongues.  Although they did not get to drink the amrita, the split in their tongues caused by the sharp-edged  dharba [or, durva] grass provided them a blessing in disguise.  According to Kurt Schwenk, ("Why snakes have forked tongues," Science vol. 263, 1994)  the evolutionary success of advanced snakes is partly due to their special tongues.  The forked tongue allows the snake to simultaneously sample two points along a chemical gradient, which is helpful in instantaneous assessment of trail location.  It may also play a role in mating.

See also,  All About Serpents.
Naga and Fertility

Because of its shape and its association  with renewal, the serpent is a phallic symbol.  This powerful emblem of fertility is thought to bring plentiful harvests and many children -- images of nagas adorn houses and shrines and temples.  It is said that when a king once banned snake worship, his kingdom suffered a drought, but the rains returned once the king himself placated Vasuki.

Above is a naga stone erected in anticipation or in gratitude for blessings received.

Role of the Naga in Buddhism

Nagas are said to have raised their hoods to protect the Buddha, and other jinas [spiritual victors] like the Jain saint Parshva.  However, at least 1500 years before Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment when Ananta or Muchilinda with his many heads sheltered him, the mythic image of nagas doing homage to a great yogi was well-known.

< imprint of a seal found at site of archaic Indus Valley city

 

 

 

Visit Himalayan Art web site to see a tangka with 8 great nagas around Vajrapani.
Many examples of the naga association with the Buddha appear on the walls and along an avenue leading to the temple of Ankhor Wat in Kampuchea (formerly, Cambodia) and also in Buddhist temples in Shri Lanka (formerly, Ceylon.) 

See a Thai naga as conceived by S. Dhumphakdi & Sons Publisher, Bangkok, Thailand (10 Perfections series.)

Nag'arjuna

The Indian mahasiddha, Nagarjuna, received his illuminating insights and tantric empowerment with the help of the nagas in the lake beside which he meditated.  Nagarjuna is one of the main champions of Buddhist philosophy, and is traditionally portrayed with a sunshade or halo formed by a multi-headed serpent.  He is called the Second Buddha, partly in tribute to his having established the Madhyamaka [Middle-Way, ie. neither materialist nor nihilist nor idealist] school of philosophy.

See the Buddha's protector-naga in the process of transforming into Nagarjuna unsheathing the sword of wisdom at the Asian Art web site.
As there are serpents in Tibet, and nagas known as kLu play a role in the symbolism of Himalayan Buddhism and in Tibetan mythology, so Nagarjuna is known as Lu-trub.

The tradition of Sera Monastery holds that when Sakya Yeshe was on his way back from visiting China, it so happened that the set of Tengyur (Buddhist scriptures) donated by the emperor fell into the water while the party was fording a river. The travellers could see that the texts were hopelessly lost and so, distraught, they continued on their way back to Sera.

When the caravan finally got back, the monks told them that just before their return, an old man with attendants had visited Sera and presented a set of scriptures to the monastery.  He said that he was delivering it for Sakya Yeshe.  It was believed that the old man was really a Naga king, for when the texts were examined, it was found that they were still a bit damp.

A bronze naga-king from Densatil monastery, East Tibet, undergoing transformation.
The traditional life-story [Tibetan: namthar] of Niguma, the female companion of Naropa, begins during the time of one of the earliest Buddhas in a region covered by water ruled by a great Naga King.  This Naga was an accomplished and compassionate disciple of that Buddha and gave his permission for the miraculous drying up the water for the purpose of erecting a great temple and monastery.  A bustling city grew up around these which acquired a certain reputation, and came to be called The Land of Great Magic. This is the place that Niguma was born.

Niguma developed the powerful tantric techniques referred to as the Five Dharmas of Niguma.  The best known is called the Dream Yoga of Niguma.  Her disciple, Naljor, is considered the head of the Shangpa Kagyu denomination of Tibetan Buddhism.

[Jessie Fong]

http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Nagas.html#b explains:

Nagas are a race of semidivine serpent creatures in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Female Nagas are called Nagis or Naginis. Usually depicted as human above the waist and snake below the waist, Nagas can also change shape to appear fully human or snake. Nagas and Nagis are known for their strength, supernatural wisdom, and good looks. When Nagis take human form, they can marry mortal men, and some Indian dynasties claim descent from them.

According to legend, Nagas are children of Kadru, the granddaughter of the god Brahma*, and her husband, Kasyapa. Nagas lived on earth at first, but their numbers became so great that Brahma sent them to live under the sea. They reside in magnificent jeweled palaces and rule as kings at the bottom of rivers and lakes and in the underground realm called Patala.

Like humans, Nagas show wisdom and concern for others but also cowardice and injustice. Nagas are immortal and potentially dangerous. Some are demons; others seem friendly and are worshiped as gods. Nagas also serve as protectors and guardians of treasure—both material riches and spiritual wealth.

supernatural related to forces beyond the normal world; magical or miraculous

dynasty succession of rulers from the same family or group

immortal able to live forever

prophet one who claims to have received divine messages or insights

One famous Naga named Muchalinda spreads his cobra hood to shelter the prophet Buddha while he meditates. When the god Vishnu* sleeps, he is protected by Shesha, king of the Nagas. Shesha's seven snake heads cover the god. As servants of the god Indra, Nagas oversee the distribution of rain. Sometimes they withhold the rain until forced to release it by the eagle god Garuda.



Read more: Nagas - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, god, legend, names, famous, snake, Hindu, world, king http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Nagas.html#b#ixzz21FskeBK4


If it is considered a myth, then how do we ascertain that nagas belong within the animal realm, or any other  realms?

[Positive Change]

Role of the Naga in Buddhism
 
Nagas are said to have raised their hoods to protect the Buddha, and other jinas [spiritual victors] like the Jain saint Parshva.
 
However, at least 1500 years before Buddha Shakyamuni’s enlightenment when Ananta or Muchilinda with his many heads sheltered him, the mythic image of nagas doing homage to a great yogi was well-known.



Tangka with 8 great nagas around Vajrapani


The Indian mahasiddha Nagarjuna received his illuminating insights and tantric empowerment with the help of the nagas in the lake beside which he meditated.
 
Nagarjuna, as the champion of Buddhist philosophy is traditionally portrayed with a sunshade or halo formed by a multi-headed serpent. He is called the Second Buddha, partly in tribute to his having established the Madhyamaka [Middle-Way, ie. neither materialist nor nihilist nor idealist] school of philosophy.

As there are serpents in Tibet, and nagas called Lu play a role in the symbolism of Tibetan Buddhism and in Tibetan mythology, so Nagarjuna is known as Lu-trub. 



Buddha’s protector-naga in the process of transforming into Nagarjuna unsheathing the sword of wisdom.


The tradition of Sera Monastery holds that when Sakya Yeshe was on his way back from visiting China, it so happened that the set of Tangyur (Buddhist scriptures) donated by the emperor fell into the water while the party was fording a river. The travellers could see that the texts were hopelessly lost and so, distraught, they continued on their way back to Sera.

When the caravan finally got back, the monks told them that just before their return, an old man with attendants had visited Sera and presented a set of scriptures to the monastery. He said that he was delivering it for Sakya Yeshe.
 
It was believed that the old man was really a Naga king, for when the texts were examined, it was found that they were still a bit damp.

The traditional life-story [Tibetan: namthar] of Niguma, the female companion of Naropa, begins during the time of one of the earliest Buddhas in a region covered by water ruled by a great Naga King. This Naga was an accomplished and compassionate disciple of that Buddha and gave his permission for the miraculous drying up the water for the purpose of erecting a great temple and monastery.
 
A bustling city grew up around these which acquired a certain reputation, and came to be called The Land of Great Magic. This is the place that Niguma was born.

Niguma developed the powerful tantric techniques referred to as the Five Dharmas of Niguma. The best known is called the Dream Yoga of Niguma. Her disciple, Naljor, is considered the head of the Shangpa Kagyu denomination of Tibetan Buddhism.



Lady Niguma


Naga Figures in Other Traditions

A naga with wings may be the iconographic forerunner of the dragon. It links sky, earth and water. This is Uazet or Wadjet, the ancient Egyptian wisdom deity who was the protector of pharoahs.



The Creator-goddess of ancient China, Neu-kwa (Nu Kua or Nu Gua,) is here depicted with only the head of a woman.
 
However, she is usually described as having the upper body of a woman that melts into her serpent lower-half. After creation, during which she made humans, she put down a rebellion against heavenly order.
 
When the dying rebel chief shook the heavenly pillars, she restored the sky by melting turquoises.

Nu Hua-shi also used the toes of the cosmic tortoise (Kashyapa, of Indian mythology) as markers for the compass’ directions. She restored the land at the time of the Flood with the ash from burnt reeds.



Kashyapa depicted in thangka form

Since she is credited with establishing the custom of marriage, she is also considered the source of human order, (like the Egyptian Ma’at. We would use the term, Dharma.) The queen of all nagas, she combines and embodies creativity, cosmic order, water, earth and sky.
 
Echidna (Gr. ekhis, she-viper) of Greek mythology is also often depicted in this way. She is the mother of the sphinx and other such figures.
 
The offspring of Sky and Earth, she is sister to the great serpent, Typhon. In Theogony, Hesiod calls her the "Mother of All Monsters."



A graphic illustration of Lamia

Another naga-like figure in Greek mythology is Lamia. She was a daughter of Poseidon who was the queen of Libya. Because Zeus desired her, Hera killed her children and turned her into a "monster" having the body of a serpent but the breasts and head of a woman.
 
Endlessly obsessing over the image of her dead children, she could never close her eyes, so Zeus gave her the gift of being able to take out her eyes and then put them back in.
 
It is said that Lamia was envious of other mothers and ate their children.

[Big Uncle]

I believe that the Nagas belong to the animal realm although their intellectual capability far surpasses ordinary animals. Due to their supernatural nature, they possess a certain power to control the weather and are also known to bestow wealth. Hence, the Tibetan Lamas have developed a method to tap into their energy for this purpose.

Nagas have been benevolent figures in Buddhism.Nagas are known to have protected the Buddha from the elements and the pivotal in the preservation of the Buddha's teachings. The Buddha's teaching on emptiness was kept in their realm and was later given to Nagarjuna to be propagated amongst humans again.                                                                                                                                             

[Positive Change]

Potala or Patala

The former palace of the Dalai lamas in Lhasa, Tibet is known as the Potala. The name means "heavenly abode." In the great Indian epic, Mahabharata, the Nagas inhabit the realm called Patala. Ulupi, daughter of their king, married Arjuna the hero and leader of the Pandava brothers whose charioteer is Krishna. The Nagas fought on the side of the Ashuras [anti-gods or titans] in the Great War.

In the western borderland of Pakistan that is the Udayana of legend, a version of the story has consequences for farmers. The champion, Apulala [cf. Apsu of Mesopotamian mythology] of the nagas in Patala, a watery region under the earth, are generally able to keep the wicked dragons [cf. Tiamat of Mesopotamia] from overdoing the seasonal rains. Thanks to his moderating capabilities, the farmers prospered. 

In gratitude each family offered him a bit of grain as tribute. After some time several of the inhabitants of the place began to forego the yearly offering. The Naga became angry and prayed that he might become a poisonous dragon so that he could drench the countryside in rain and wind. So it is that at the end of his life he became the dragon of that country. To this day Rajas (local princes) in the Hindu Kush are said to be able to control the elements...   

In Himalayan Buddhism, these water nagas are keepers of secret books of wisdom. They can be generous, but they also have the ability to let loose diseases and epidemics. They are propitiated with suitable offerings. 

In the 17th century, Tibet's Fifth Dalai Lama was inspired to have constructed a small temple on a lake behind the Potala palace in Lhasa dedicated to [kLu] or lu. This is called the Lhukang. On its walls are depictions of tantric practices, and images of the 84 Mahasiddhas as nagas are associated with these yogic accomplishment. (As we have seen, even today the group of naked and most physically disciplined Indian yogis are known as the nagas.




See a pair of naginis: One bears jewels, the other a bodhi leaf which represents sacred writings. Offerings are at the bottom foreground of the painting.

There is a Middle Kingdom (Egyptian) story in Ethics of Ancient Egypt by Sanderson Beck that tells of a typical encounter with a generous naga:

Having set out for the mines of the sovereign, a large ship carrying a hundred and twenty sailors is destroyed in a storm, and [the hero] is cast alone on an island, where he finds figs, vines, leeks, fruit, cucumbers, fish, and fowl. Using two sticks for a fire-drill, he kindles a fire to sacrifice to the gods when he sees a huge serpent fifteen meters long overlaid with gold and having eyebrows of lapis lazuli who asks him why he is there.

The sailor explains about the ship going to the mines that perished, and the serpent offers him every good thing there on the island until a ship comes to take him back to the royal residence. In gratitude the sailor offers the serpent precious perfumes, but the latter laughs because as prince of Punt he has myrrh and hekenu in abundance.

When the ship comes, the serpent gives him numerous treasures that the Egyptians imported from the incense-producing countries. The sailor takes these back to his Sovereign, who thanks him and appoints him a henchman...

Of the five guardians of the cardinal points (we include the centre,) the Lord of the West is the naga king, Virupaksha. Nagas are also thought to guard the five lakes and four oceans of the world.

[pgdharma]

This is what I  found about  nagas. Nagas belonged to half animal and half god realm.

The Sanskrit word naga means snake or serpent. Nagas belong half to the animal realm and half to the god realm. Nagas are often snake-like in form, creatures with the torso and head of humans, and the body and tail of a snake, though they can assume human form at will. They dwell in a variety of locations ranging from waterways and underground locations and also in unseen realms. They are broadly divided into two classes: those that live on land (thalaja) and those that live on water (jalaja). The Jalaja-naga live in rivers as well as in the sea, while the Thalaja-naga are regarded as living beneath the surface of the earth.

Nagas have their own society and kingdoms under the earth and are often the custodian of treasures: either texts or actual material treasures under ground. Some are infinitely wealthy and owe their present form to a previous life of unethical generosity. Their lives are long and they are gifted with miraculous powers and great strength. Nagas are easily angered and passionate. Nagas are susceptible to suffering created by mankinds carelessness and basic ignorance of proper conduct in nature and disrespectful actions in relation to our environment. The weaker nagas will undergo great hardship or die off, while the more powerful will react with anger and strike back at the offenders, inflicting skin disases, death, and sudden catastrophe like floods and drought. Additionally, Nagas can bestow various types of wealth, bring rain and thus assure fertility of crops and the environment as well as decline these blessings. For this reason the practice of Lu Sang (offering of smoke) can be performed as a method to increase prosperity, and assist the Nagas by preserving the positive qualities of their natural environment.

http://www.dharmaling.com/index.php?option=com_definition&func=display&letter=N&Itemid=25&catid=9&page=1

[buddhalovely]

Naga belongs to animal realm. There are 2 types of animals, one type is capable of harming us while the other is not capable of harming us back when agitated. Domestic animals like cow, chicken are the second type. Naga belongs to the first type. If we accidentally or intentionally harm the Naga, it will cause us sickness and creates obstacles.

If human digs the earth, canal or well, we may accidentally hurt the Nagas. This may cause us sickness. The Naga who is harmed is sick and we also in turn become sick. Unless the Naga gets well, otherwise we will remain sick and even seeing doctor may not cure.

When Naga harms us, we should not return with harm but we should return Nagas with loving kindness and offer them torma, milk and other offerings. This is aligned to Buddhist teaching of loving kindness and generating universal compassion to all beings, especially those in hell, animal or hungry ghost realm, we should generate loving kindness and compassion towards them.

There are 8 kinds of naga Kings: i) Galwo  ii) Nyegalwo iii) Kun Galwo iv) Tsuna Richen v) Taye vi) Dhung Kyong vii) Norgye viii) Zichen. These eight are powerful Naga kings. The other types of Nagas are snakes, tortoise, fish, frogs which are also considered a form of Naga.

Naga has two races white and black. Black is fiercest and won’t help us. The white Naga will help us whether we offer to them or not.

[rossoneri]

Nagas appear to have families and the whole realm of nagas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_Kingdom#Naga_Ananta_or_Sesha

Prominent Nagas
[edit]Naga Ananta or Sesha
This Naga became an ascetic and dessisted from becoming a king

Sesha of great renown practised hard penances. He practised ascetic devotions, repairing to Gandhamadana (in Himalaya), Vadri (Badrinath), Gokarna (Gokarn), the woods of Pushkara (Pushkar), and the foot of Himavat. And he passed his days in those sacred regions, some of which were sacred for their water and others for their soil in the rigid observance of his vows, with singleness of aim, and his passions under complete control.

[edit]Naga king Vasuki
Vasuki is mentioned as a king of Nagas at (1,39).

Naga Vasuki was anxious of rescuing his race from the threat of Kuru kings. He discussed the means to save his race from extermination by the hands of Kuru kings (1,37). Many Nagas suggested to obstruct the mission of the Kuru King by opting for violence; like slaying the king or his advisers or themselves becoming the king's advisers. The Naga Elapatra suggested Vasuki to make alliance with Brahmana Jaratkaru of Yayavara race and beget an offspring who will save them from their difficulties (1,38). That was acceptable to Vasuki. Thus was born the offspring of Naga women and a Brahmana, viz Astika. He prevented the extermination of Naga race.

[edit]Naga king Airavata
Airavatas were the most successful Naga race during the epic-ages. The Takshakas, the Pauravas and the Dhritarashtras seems to be branches of Airavata's race. Airavatas could be earlier inhabitants of river Iravati (Ravi river in Punjab, Pakistan) or the unknown region in the far north called Airavata.

All Nagas were mentioned as the subjects of King Airavata (1,3). Here Airavata is mentioned as splendid in battle and showering weapons in the field like lightning-charged clouds driven by the winds. The sons of Airavata were mentioned as handsome and of various forms and decked with many coloured ear-rings. His territory is mentioned as the northern banks of the Ganges (i.e. Uttarakhand). Dhritarashtra was Airavata’s younger brother. When he goes out, 28008 serpents follow him as his attendants (1,3).

[edit]Naga King Takshaka
Main article Takshaka.

Acts of Pandava Arjuna and Naga Takshaka was the cause of enemity between Kuru kings and Nagas. Arjuna killed Takshaka's wife who dwelled in the Khandava Forest. Takshaka avenged her death by killing Parikshit the grandson of Arjuna by poisoning him. King Janamejaya conducted a massacre of Nagas to avenge his father Parikshit's death. Later a sage named Astika ended this enmity between Kurus and Nagas.

[edit]Naga King Nahusha
Nahusha is mentioned as a Naga at (1,35) (5,103).

At (13,99) Nahusha is mentioned as ruling even the Deva territories, and later degraded to the status of a Naga king. It is repeated at (12,342). The history of Nahusha becoming the king of Deva territories is mentioned at (5-11 to 17). He was powerful and renowned. Power corrupted him and he was later banished from the throne of Deva territories. It seems he later lived as a small king of the Naga race. Yayati (a king of Lunar Dynasty) is mentioned as his son at many places in Mahabharata. Thus, it seems, he later became known as a king belonging to the Lunar Dynasty of kings in ancient India.

A snake (a viper) attacked and afflicted Bhima in a forest called Visakhayupa, situated at the source of river Yamuna. This incident is mentioned at (3,176). At (3,178) that snake is described as Nahusha. He is mentioned here as the son of Ayus (Pururavas (first king of Lunar Dynasty) -> Ayus -> Nahusha), thus he becomes a forefather of the Pandavas. This raises a doubt whether the lunar race of kings originally branched from the Naga race of kings. Many kings in the line of Purus and Kurus, all being branches of the lunar race, like Dhritarashtra and Janamejaya also were mentioned as Nagas at various places. Kuru city Hastinapura also is some times mentioned as Nagapura (one of its meaning being the city of Nagas).

In Book 12 and 13 Nahusha is mentioned as a learned king conversing with many sages like Bhrigu, Chyavana and Agastya
[edit]Naga chief Aryaka
Nagawanshi Aryaka (sansk. ??) was mentioned to be a member of Naga king Vasuki's palace. He was described as related to Pandava Bhima. He was the grandfather of the father of Kunti, the mother of Bhima. He recognized Bhima as his kinsmen when the Nagas rescued Bhima, a boy then, and brought him to the palace of Vasuki. Bhima was food-poisoned, tied up and thrown into river Ganges at a place called Pramanakoti, by Duryodhana (1,128).

Aryaka is mentioned to have born in the race of Kauravya. Kauravya is born in the race of Airavata. Aryaka's son was named Chikura. Chikura was slain by a Suparna. Chikura's wife was the daughter of a Naga named Vamana. Chikura's son was named Sumukha. Matali, the charioteer of Deva king Indra chose Sumuka as his daughter Gunakesi's husband (5,103).

[edit]Naga Prince Iravan
Main article: Iravan
During a 12-year-long pilgrimage over the whole of India, Arjuna, leaving Indraprastha, arrived at the source of the Ganges (now known as Rishikesh) where it entered the plains. There he met a Naga woman, Ul?p?. She took Arjuna to the mansion of Kauravya, king of the Nagas. Kauravya himself was mentioned as an Airavata. Arjuna spent one night with Ul?p? and came back from the palace of Kauravya to the region where the Ganges enters the plains (1,216).

Ul?p?'s former husband was slain by a Suparna and she was childless. A son named Iravan was born to Arjuna and Ul?p?. But Ul?p?'s brother hated Arjuna since he destroyed the Nagas dwelling in Khandava forest and so abandoned Ul?p? and his son.

Iravan grew in the territory of Nagas, protected by his mother. Later when Arjuna visited the Deva region to the northeast of the Naga territories, he went and met Arjuna. He accepted him as his beloved son, and asked him to render assistance in battle when required. Iravan entered the Kurukshetra War with an excellent cavalry force driven by Naga warriors (6,91). He participated in the war (6-84,91) and was slain by the Rakshasa Alamvusa, the son of Risyasringa (6,91).

Ul?p? is mentioned as interacting with Arjuna's another son Vabhruvahana, born of another wife Chitrangada at (14,79).
Ul?p? and Chitrangada are mentioned as being accepted into the palace of Hastinapura at (14,88)
Ul?p? and Chitrangada are mentioned with other wives of the Pandavas at (15,1).
Ul?p? and Chitrangada are mentioned as departing, when Pandavas set for their last journey (17,1).
A weapon used in Kurukshetra War is named a Naga weapon (8,53).
[edit]Naga chief Padma
Naga Padma (Pandmanabha) was a chief who ruled from a city in the forest of Naimisha, on the banks of the river Gomati (12,354). Reflecting upon all things with great care, he protects the righteous and chastises the wicked by adopting the quadruple policy of conciliation, provoking dissensions, making gifts or bribes, and using force. That Naga is always fond of guests. He is intelligent, and devoted to the study of the Vedas. He has great wealth. He performs sacrifice, makes gifts, abstains from inflicting injury and practises forgiveness. Ten chapters (12- 354 to 363) describes the arrival of a Brahmana as a guest to this Naga's abode, and his discussion with this Naga on the varied subjects of religion and soul.