Traditions about nāgas are also very common in all the Buddhist countries of Asia. In many countries, the nāga concept has been merged with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons such as the Burmese nat . In Tibetan religion, the nāga was equated with the klu (Tibetan: ཀླུ་) that dwell in lakes or underground streams and guard treasure. In China, the nāga was equated with the Chinese dragon (Chinese: 龍; pinyin: lóng).

The Buddhist nāga generally has the form of a great cobra, usually with a single head but sometimes with many. At least some of the nāgas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human semblance. In Buddhist painting, the nāga is sometimes portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head.One nāga, 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 human, able to become a monk.

In the “Devadatta” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the daughter of the dragon king, an eight-year-old longnü(nāga), after listening to Mañjuśrī preach the Lotus Sutra, transforms into a male Bodhisattva and immediately reaches full enlightenment.This tale appears to reinforce the viewpoint prevalent in Mahayana scriptures that a male body is required for Buddhahood, even if a being is so advanced in realization that they can magically transform their body at will and demonstrate the emptiness of the physical form itself.

Nagas are believed to both live on Mount Meru, 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 ocean; others are earth-dwellers, living in underground caverns.

The nāgas are the servants of Virūpākṣa (Pāli: Virūpakkha), one of the Four Heavenly Kings who guards the western direction. They act as a guard upon Mount Sumeru, protecting the dēvas of Trāyastriṃśa from attack by the asūras.

Among the notable nāgas of Buddhist tradition is Mucalinda, Nāgarāja and protector of the Buddha. In the Vinaya Sutra , shortly after his enlightenment, the Buddha is meditating in a forest when a great storm arises, but graciously, King Mucalinda gives shelter to the Buddha from the storm by covering the Buddha’s head with his seven snake heads.Then the king takes the form of a young Brahmin and renders the Buddha homage.

It is noteworthy that the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Sariputta and Moggallāna are both referred to as Mahānāga or “Great Nāga”.Some of the most important figures in Buddhist history symbolize nagas in their names such as Dignāga, Nāgārsēna, and, although other etymons are assigned to his name, Nāgārjuna.

In the Vajrayāna and Mahāsiddha traditions,nagas in their half-human form are depicted holding a naga-jewel, kumbhas of amrita, or a terma that had been elementally encoded by adepts.

Norbu states that according to tradition, the Prajñapāramita terma are held to have been conferred upon Nāgārjuna by the Nagaraja, who had been guarding them at the bottom of a lake.

Nagas are powerful beings belonging to the animal realm but they have subtle bodies that humans cannot ordinarily perceive. They are considered one of the Eight Classes of Spirits known as ‘Lu’ in Tibetan. Nagas are ruled by Eight Naga Kings and are usually depicted as serpentine beings, or as beings with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a serpent. They can also appear as large snakes, frogs and as fish or reptiles. As they are sentient beings within samsara, who have their own karma, perception and tendencies, Nagas are not enlightened beings. Hence as Buddhists we do not take refuge in them.

These beings abide in areas where there is water, such as in streams, springs, ponds, rivers, lakes and the oceans. To a lesser extent they also abide in woodland areas, such as forests and jungles. As these places are their homes, Nagas become extremely displeased when someone pollutes their environment (especially waterways), clears the natural flora and fauna, does any form of destructive earthworks or constructs buildings on their land. They are also displeased when people living on their land or near them are disharmonious and quarrelsome.

Being extremely clean beings, they also abhor negative actions including the killing of animals, and the smell of meat disgusts them. They also cannot stand the smell of alcohol or other intoxicants, and are offended when people break their samaya with their gurus.

If we have offended Nagas in any way, they can afflict us if we have a karmic connection with them from previous lives. Such signs that the Nagas are offended includes:

• dreams of snakes attacking us
• accidents
• skin diseases, especially leprosy
• cancer
• kidney problems
• disharmony within our lives
• in extreme cases, can lead to possession and even death.

As powerful beings that can control the weather, they can also cause severe drought, or floods if they are displeased.

There are many ways we can appease these beings, including giving them offerings and reciting certain prayers. For example, you can sponsor a Naga Puja to appease them. When they are happy, Nagas can actually grant conducive weather conditions, for example by calling for or holding off the rain. Nagas who are pleased can also result in improvements in one’s wealth, fame and health. Peace and harmony can increase, and various obstacles and sicknesses in life can be removed. Being sensitive beings however, it is generally not recommended that we propitiate Nagas unless we are under the guidance of a qualified lama.

Making offerings and reciting prayers to the Nagas is more than just appeasing them. It is also to pacify any injury we have caused them due our carelessness, since we have caused them harm by altering their environment. Another method is to recite the sutra below. This can be recited on Naga days or whenever possible. It is good to do this repeatedly when engaging in construction work or any work that disturbs the land, or could cause unintentional pollution to the land and waterways. This sutra can be recited by anyone with good samaya with their lama, and who holds their vows and commitments well. Also, one should observe a strict vegetarian diet one day prior to the recitation and on the actual day of the recitation as well, in order to cleanse yourself since Nagas are adverse even to the smell of meat and alcohol.

Accompanying this recitation, you can burn Naga incense. This incense is made with natural herbs, the scent of which is said to appease Nagas and it is free from any kind of animal products. You can also leave other offerings out near waterways and on your land, such as milk and other foods that do not contain any trace of animal products, as this will serve to anger them more.

http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/apology-to-the-naga-realm.html

 OM AH HRI SIN HANANDA HUM PHET