The Buddha And The Dragon

Many Buddha statues are seen where the Buddha is depicted in meditation pose sheltered by a serpent with  a single headed or multi-headed king cobra. The serpents are said to have raised their hoods to shelter and to protect the Buddha during his meditation.  The great Serpent of mythology is often depicted as half human, half snake.  It may also take the form of a many-headed cobra like the one thought to have sheltered the Buddha Shakyamuni and Nagajuna Bodhisattva. 

In Buddhism, According to one legend, when the Buddha recognized a naga that appeared as a snake, he had such compassion that he gave the creature the Five Precepts so the naga could return in the next life as a human who could become a monk.  Born into the animal realms, they can also appear as complete serpents or fully human. Dragons can be dangerous, protective or generous with human beings, and can even be potential Buddhas.Tibetan Buddhists believe some nagas are demonic, while others are semi-divine beings who guard material and spiritual treasures, such as sacred texts. 

Naga the word come from Sanskrit. Naga or dragon is the word for snake or serpent, in most of the languages of India, Naga referred to the king Cobra,  In the Tibetan and Hindu mythology, Nagas or dragons are primarily serpent-beings. The dragon is a deity of the primal ocean and of mountain springs; also spirits of earth and the realm beneath it, and finally, dragons.  

The Nagas are spirits of the underworld, to be found at points where their realm impinges on ours - such as springs and rivers. They store great treasures of wealth and precious stones, and sometimes books of secret teachings in underwater palaces. Like other wealthy beings, these powerful Nagas were formerly people very generous in temperament however, they are dangerous and volatile and also easily get angry and cruel. Their deadly enemy is the Garuda, strongest of the birds."

In Tibet, and the Nagas are known as "klu" and the Dragon play a role in the symbolism of Tibetan Buddhism and in Tibetan mythology, Benign Nagas can be the most generous of allies, but their fierce counterparts are known to cause certain classes of dis­ease. In Tibet they are propitiated as lords of the rain.  

A famous legendary of Naga in Tibet

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 Monastery.

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.  

An explanation of the Dragon by H.E Tsewang Ngodrup Rinpoche.
Nagas [klu] are a class of beings 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".  
[ Lu Sang - literally means smoke puja ] 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.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the dragon pujas serve with many purposes. Buddhists appease dragon that threaten mankind with diseases by holding rituals and making offerings that appeal to the Dragon sensibilities so that the dragons do not threaten and cause harm to them. 

* Footnote *

The Tibetan is only giving offerings to appease to the dragons not to harm them, but the Tibetan Buddhist doesn't take refuge from these worldly beings. As a Buddhist and regardless of what traditions, we only take refuge to the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease
But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

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