Nagas in The Buddhist Scripture : The Origin and their Influence On Thai Culture

Abstract

The purposes of this study were 1) To study history of Naga in Buddhist Scriptures, 2) To study influences of Naga in Thai culture. Scope of the study is limited study for the investigation of the Nagas in Buddhist scriptures and other documents in Pali, and 3) To study the influence of the concept of Naga in Thai thought and Thai culture. Naga or Phayanak appreared in Buddhist scriptures such as Vinayapitaka, and Suttantapitaka: the 4th Vinayapitaka, mahavagga, and the 17th suttantapitaka. The narrative statements are simple and not exaggerated. The influence of naga in Thai culture is very high, such as a man of 20 years old who begins to be ordained is called “nak”, for there is a legend that a naga pretended to be ordained in Buddhism in the Buddha time (vi.maha.4/127/175-177). There is an important literature, Nandopanandasutra Khamluang. In Thai architecture, there is a stair in Naga form, a naga structure on the Uposatha gable. Also there are more folklores of naga.