Saturday: seated under the Naga hood

It’s not difficult to see how the Naga was such a prevalent iconic symbol during my South East Asia trip.

From my very first day at the Grand Palace, whilst the guide was explaining the roof top Naga figures protecting the temples, it kind of stuck with me.

Visiting the Naga fireball festival, I was told by local Thais, was very auspicious.

I even choose to go with Sea Dragon dive centre for the Adaman live-aboard dive trip!

Here’s some information about the Naga:

The Naga, or the king of snakes, is a serpent like creature with beard and pointed crown. In old text, Naga is the half-brother of the. Base on mythology, the two had the same father and their mothers were sisters. Nagas are sworn enemies of Garuda due to their mother's conflict.

Shimmering gold and blue tiles represent scales on this 200-year-old naga (sea dragon) from Thailand. Used as temple roof finials or in pairs at entrances to guard against evil spirits and natural disasters, the powerful, mystical naga are among the most revered Buddhist symbols in Thailand.

The Naga is also frequently portrayed giving comfort and shade to the meditating Buddha, the coils of the great snake acting as a cushion while the many heads function as an umbrella.

The Buddha sits in meditation with overlapping hands turned upwards on his lap, while the naga spreads its hood above his head to protect him from wind and rain.

Narrative: After seven days of meditating under a tree near the bodhi tree, Mucalinda, the king of the naga that also protected him with the hood, encircled the Buddha’s body.According to legend, the Buddha’s body except the head, neck and shoulders was coiled four or five times by the naga to protect him from a storm. Consequently, the Buddha image is depicted as if the Buddha is sitting on the coils of the naga that fans his crest like a hood.

When the rain stopped, Mucalinda uncoiled himself and disguised himself as a young man and paid respect to the Buddha. Afterwards, the Buddha pronounced