The Gifts of the Serpent-Like, Semi-Divine, Nawakened Spiritual Beings, Highly Revered As Masters of Wisdom by Shamans and Spiritual Practitioners
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agas are a class of long-lived, The Gifts of the serpent-like, semi-divine, Nawakened spiritual beings, highly revered as masters of wisdom by shamans and spiritual practitioners. They are respected Nagas for their healing powers, their magical skill, and their great courage; but sometimes they are feared for their violence and quick tempers. Nagas vary in their types Serpent Spirits and their of perception and also vary in their role within the Shamanic levels of wisdom. Nagas can transfigure into other Traditions of Nepal forms at will, but mostly they appear snake-like, typically Bhola Banstola depicted as attractive beings, richly adorned with jewels. They are awe-inspiring, their upper bodies appear human, either male of female, but they have a serpentine tail below their waists. They are deeply connected to the earth, water and the other realms, and nagas are seen as protectors and the bestowers of abundance, both material and spiritual. The word ‘naga’ is Sanskrit for cobra, and in most of the languages of Nepal and India the word nag means snake, especially a cobra. The word can be used for nagas of either gender, but often a female naga will be called a nagini. The word naga is also the name of the forest-dwelling people of north- eastern India and Myanmar. Naga practices have been a living tradition in Nepal from time immemorial. In the Himalayas, some of the most powerful deities and spirit beings are depicted with crowns, necklaces, bracelets and anklets in the form of serpents, nagas, and a strong serpent cult is present in all the leading religious practices of Asia, such as the Vedic religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and the Bön practices. This importance of nagas is also found within the prevalent myths, rites, rituals, and healing practices of the dhami- jhankri (shamans) of Nepal and the Himalayan regions, as nagas are primal spirit beings who play a dominant role. Nagas are considered to be present in all of the phases of the creation, nurturance and final Left: termination of the universe, and Bronze Cobra they play the same role in all of the Northern India life phases of individual living C18th beings too. HOOP ISSUE 107 2020 0 www.sacredhoop.org The realm of the nagas is called naga loka, and it is the lowest part of the Lower World realms. From there, the nagas command and rule There is a special naga, the whole universe. They are also thought to inhabit the underworlds called Naga Kanya. below the land and the sea, as well She is called the ‘virgin as being in rivers, lakes, wells and oceans, as well as inaccessible naga,’ which means caves and caverns. They can also be where there are geothermal she has no family vents and hot water springs, which and lives on her own provide pockets of warmth to protect them from harsh weather conditions. But they are not just Naga Kanya lives beyond thought of as physical beings, as they are also considered to be the boundaries between unseen spirits, associated with realms, and has no single space, air, fire, water and fluidity. domain to which she There is an archetypal image of Shiva and Shakti - the primordial belongs. She takes care male and female aspects of creation of the earth, the waters - as two mating serpents, interwoven to form a caduceus symbol. This is and the atmosphere an image found in esoteric tantric art, and symbolises complete union; the great naga, kundali. In this form the great Shiva and nagas. This is called the naga no family and lives on her own. Above: painted Shakti nagas are at the centre of mani, and it is one of the most Naga Kanya lives beyond the and gilded five the naga universe, at the centre of precious things that a naga holds. boundaries between realms, and hooded Naga the naga loka. In our tradition, we say that has no single domain to which she Kanya statue Flanking these primordial male when a shaman journeys to the belongs. She takes care of the Patan, Nepal and female aspects of creation, lowest part of the Lower World, it earth, the waters and the late C20th and all around them, there are said is not dark, deep down there, atmosphere. to be the eight Naga Raja [naga because of the light that the naga- She is always depicted with kings] and Naga Rani [naga mani radiates, making everything several small serpents rising above queens] with four Naga Dikpala luminous instead of dark. So we her, growing out from within her, [guardians] - at the four quarters of say the naga mani is one of the and forming a canopy over her the circle of the universe. most precious things that the world head. When she has a five hooded The Naga Raja can be has ever had. recognised by a glowing gem, which is found on the top of his There is also a special naga, head, or on his forehead, or in his called Naga Kanya, or sometimes mouth. This gem can grant wishes Naga Kumari. Naga Kanya is the and manifest the power of the ‘virgin naga,’ which means she has Far left: Shiva and Shakti. Temple Carving Kathmandu Left: male and female snakes entwine during their mating HOOP ISSUE 107 2020 www.sacredhoop.org 0 Every household pastes pictures The lower half of her body is shown as a serpent, and the top of nagas above the door to their half of her is shown as a woman, and she also has wings. The wings house and give offerings of milk are essential, because they and other foods to the pictures. symbolise that she has no limitation to her domain. There is a belief that making In her hands, she holds a white conch shell, which recalls all the offerings protects the house from primordial memories. lightning and fire, and the family The naga loka is where many from snakes and scorpions types of nagas dwell, and some traditions say that there are eight This page: snake canopy she is Pancha Kanya different kinds of nagas, collectively posters sold for Devi; when she has a seven called the aasta naga, but some the annula Naga serpent canopy she is Sapta Kanya cosmologies say there are nine or Panchami day Devi, and when she has a nine even twelve different types. when disrespectful humans urinate festival in serpent canopy she is called Nava Shesha - who is also known as or defecate in the place of a naga. various forms Kanya Devi. Ananta - is said to be the supreme of These kinds of actions can result in all the naga kings. Lord Vishnu rests the manifestation of emotional upon him, the naga taking the form imbalance, physical diseases, or of a sacred couch. He represents various natural calamities. the concept of ‘endlessness,’ and he is said to support the entire weight of Nagas are closely associated the earth. with the earth and the water. They are protectors or guardian spirits of Nagas can have either a rivers, lakes, reservoirs and seas, beneficial, hostile or neutral influence on human beings. They can suffer greatly because of humanity's carelessness and our ignorance of the proper conduct towards nature, as well as all our disrespectful actions towards environment. When this happens, nagas often retaliate towards humans, especially when their environment is polluted such as HOOP ISSUE 107 220 0 www.sacredhoop.org swamps and forests. They also Left: giving a control rainfall, and thus affect the milk offering fertility of the land. to a carving Because they bring rain, they of a naga on may also cause a drought. That is a building in why during the annual Nepalese Kathmandu Naga Panchami naga festival, they are celebrated as the Naga Raja and Naga Rani, in recognition of their many attributes. NAGA PANCHAMI FESTIVAL The Naga Panchami or Naag Panchami Festival is celebrated on the fifth day after the new moon in the lunar month of Srawana (July or August) to honour the nagas. Every household pastes pictures of nagas above the main entrance door to their house, traditionally using cow dung as a paste, and give offerings of milk, rice and other foods to the pictures. There is a popular belief that pasting the picture above the main door and making offerings protects the house from lightning and fire, and the family from snakes and scorpions. Snakes are often welcomed if they venture into a Nepali home, Left: giving a and are given a saucer of milk to milk offering encourage them to stay. There is a to a carved belief held by many rural people naga at the that snakes drink milk, and cobras sacred Naag are therefore often given milk- Pokhari pool offerings, especially during Naga Panchami. But snakes, being reptiles, cannot digest milk. Some people are fearful that milk is harmful to the snakes and, might even cause death to them, but milk, as a universal nurturing offering, is given to most deities and spirit beings as a sign of honour and auspiciousness, and in reality the snakes don’t drink it. Killing, or even harming a cobra, is dreaded and thought of as the deadliest of sins. It is feared that the wrath of the snake will haunt generation after generation, and the remedial rituals needed in order to mollify this wrath are quite elaborate. It is said that a cobra can nurture a grudge against any injustice meted out to it and take its revenge, which is in part cobras are placated by giving them these offerings.