Nagini Drawing

Naga - snake people. Similar creatures are found in different cultures: in Bazhov's fairy tales, in Egyptian and Asian mythology. And of course, in India. The oldest Indian legends mention that the Naga civilization was powerful even at the dawn of mankind; they lived under the mythical Mount Meru. In the first book of the Mahabharatatas (Adiparve), the nagas are described as living on earth. Then Brahma opened the earth and they descended under it. Having moved to the underworld, Patalu, the Nagas erected magnificent palaces for themselves, resplendent with gold and precious stones. The wise serpent Vasuki became the king of the Nagas and ruled in their underground city of Bhogavati, full of treasures unseen on earth. Nagas have almost no contact with people, since their poison can be dangerous to humans, but they often come to the rescue of the Gods (described in the Mahabharata and Puranas). Nagas were considered sages, magicians and sorcerers, able to revive the dead and change their appearance. They perfectly mastered the art of maya, could penetrate through solid matter, suddenly appear and disappear. Being great sorcerers, nagas had the ability to cause fire, rain, storms and other elements of nature.