The Thai Department share myths about Naga

The Thai Department share myths about Naga Being part of the roots of the Thai language and culture, understanding Naga and other myths help us to better understand Thai culture and way of life. The beliefs and legends about Naga seem to originate from India and have been blended into local myths and legends, being widely known here just like our neighbours, e.g. Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Being part of the roots of the Thai language and culture, understanding Naga and other myths help us to better understand Thai culture and way of life. 

The beliefs and legends about Naga seem to originate from India and have been blended into local myths and legends, being widely known here just like our neighbours, e.g. Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Nagas are believed to have different classes

From the general Nagas who have large bodies like great serpents with a crest on the head and strong poison to the celestial ones who have five, seven or even nine heads with lethal poison and supernatural power such as disguising themselves as human beings or bringing rain. 

Underwater Cities and the Great Naga  

It is told through several regional legends that the great Nagas are the “celestial beings/guardians of water” or “vehicle of the Phra Phiroon, the god of rain/water”. Many beliefs say that Nagas have their underwater cities and the great Naga is the “king of the underwater world”. The Great Naga or “Phaya Nak” has the power to bring about “rain” to the earth or cause drought by stopping giving it. Some beliefs say they can disguise themselves as rain clouds and/or Naga and “rainbow” are united. Therefore, many Thai people relate rain or water from rain to Naga in many ways. 

For example, in the ‘Royal ploughing ceremony’ in May (marking the beginning of the rice-growing season revived by the late King Bhumibol as moral support for Thai agriculturists), there is a prophesying activity to predict the level of rain, informally saying as “how much Naga will give water this year”.

North-eastern Thailand Legend of Naga Fireballs 

As for the North-eastern (I-sarn) legend of Naga fireballs in October, it was told that Lord Buddha went up to Daowadung heaven for three months during the Buddhist Lent to preach to his mother who was then a celestial being to attain the Dhamma. When he came back to the earth, both human beings and other creatures were very glad to welcome him back. The Nagas in the Mekong river also came out to congratulate. Humans see it as small flames that pop up in the middle of the Mekong River. This is evident on the full moon night of the 11th month (the Thai traditional Lunar calendar’s 11th month) or the end of Buddhist Lent day.

An important part in Buddha’s history 

Nagas are mentioned in several parts of the legends of Buddha’s history, For example, after Lord Buddha’s enlightenment, Phaya Moot-cha-lin, the great Naga, coiled himself as a throne and spread his hood as a canopy preventing the wind and rain for Buddha when he was in deep serenity under the Indian Oaktree. 

Moreover, there was a Naga who had a strong faith in Buddhism so he disguised himself as a man and entered the monkhood. However, when he was in deep sleep, his body returned into a serpent and frightened the other monks. Buddha asked him to leave the monkhood because Naga was counted as a beast that would be unable to be enlightened, so he was not allowed to be ordained. This Naga was really sad and asked Lord Buddha that, because of his strong enthusiasm in ordination, those men who are preparing to be a monk be called “Naga” on the ordination’s eve. This is the origin of several Buddhist ordination ceremonies being called “blessing the Naga” (ทำขวัญนาค), “procession of Naga” (แห่นาค) (before going into the temple for ordination ceremony) and “Naga ordination” (บวชนาค). Furthermore, at the beginning of the ordination ceremony, linking with this belief, the reverent monk would ask the man who wishes to be ordained, “Are you human?” (มนุสโสสิ). Since it is believed that the great Naga or Phaya Nak often came to listen to Buddha’s preaching, you will also see the Naga statue on the stairs of most Buddhist temples. 

We hope you will enjoy our Loy Krathong day, and pictures and statues of Nagas around Thailand will now be more meaningful to you.

Reference: http://www.culture.go.th/culture_th/ewt_news.php?nid=5911&filename=index