The Naga and Thai belief

The Naga or the big snake is one of Main belief of People in South Asia or South East Asia. It represents the good fortune, the greatness and the ladder to the universe. That’s why you will see them in many stairs in temple in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand.

Thai adopt the Belief of Naga from India. In Mahabharata, Naga is positive and play important roles in epic. In Buddhist, Naga is protector of the Buddha, when he meditated in the forest shortly after his enlighten. The great storm arises, Naga King called Mucalinda, cover the Buddha’s head with his 7 snakes head gave shelter during the storm.

Moreover, the legend of the Nāga is a strong and sacred belief held by Thai and Lao people living along the Mekong River. Many pay their respects to the river because they believe the Nāga still rule in it, and locals hold an annual sacrifice for the Nāga. Each ceremony depends on how each village earns its living from the Mekong River — for instance, through fishing or transport. Local residents believe that the Nāga can protect them from danger, so they are likely to make a sacrifice to Nāga before taking a boat trip along the Mekong River.

Also, every year on the night of 15th day of 11th month in the Lao lunar calendar at the end of Vassa, an unusual phenomenon occurs in the area of the Mekong River stretching over 20 kilometres between Pak-Ngeum and Phonephisai districts in Nong Khai province, Thailand. Fireballs appear to rise from the river into the nighttime sky. Local villagers believe that Nāga under Mekong River shoot the fireballs into the air to celebrate the end of Vassa, because Nāga meditate during this time. That’s why many people are waiting to be part of that miracle.