21 



same work '. There was a festive procession in his honour, and 

 great crowds worshipped him. His idol stood in the shrine, which 

 was Ml of long wreaths of -flowers like serpents, "and which 

 therefore resembled the abyss of Patala". To the South of the 

 temple there was a large lake sacred to Vasuki, "studded with 

 red lotusses, resembling the concentrated gleams of the brilliance 

 of the jewels on snakes' crests; and encircled with blue lotusses, 

 which seemed like clouds of smoke from the fire of snake poison ; 

 overhung with trees, that seemed to be worshipping with their 

 flowers blown down by the wind". 



Other passages relate about Nagas assuming human shapes ^, 

 either to escape Garuda (who in this work is always mentioned 

 as one .being), or to embrace a Nagi. In the former case Garuda 

 himself persecuted the Naga in human form, in the latter the 

 snake-god, discovering that he was deceived by his wife during 

 his sleep, "discharged fire from his mouth, and reduced them 

 both (her lover and herself) to ashes". 



§ 3. The Naga aa a giver of rain, 



We have seen above that the Naga's capacity of raising clouds 

 and thunder when his anger was aroused was cleverly converted 

 by the Mahayana school into the highly beneficient power of 

 giving rain to the thirsty earth. In this way these fearful ser- 

 pents by the influence of Buddha's Law had become blessers of 

 mankind. It is clear that in this garb they were readily identi- 

 fied with the Chinese dragons, which were also blessing, rain 

 giving gods of the water. 



The four classes into which the Mahayanists divided the 

 Nagas were: 



1 . Heavenly JSTagas ( ^ f | ), who guard the Heavenly Palace 

 aud carry it so that it does not fall. 



2. Divine Nagas (jji| f|), who benefit mankind by causing the 

 clouds to rise and the rain to fall. 



3. Earthly Nagas (J^ f|), who drain off rivers (remove the 

 obstructions) and open sluices (outlets). 



1 Ch. LXXIV, Vol. II, p. 225. Vasuki is also mentioned Vol. I, p. 32, where 

 KIrtisena, his brother's son, is said to have married Crutartha, the daughter of a 

 Brahman. His daughter Ratnaprabha is mentioned Vol. I, p. 544. He cursed a Naga 

 king who had fled from battle, Vol. II, p. 171. The serpent Vasuki served as a rope 

 with which to whirl round mount Mandara, when the sea was churned and produced 

 Qri or Lakshmi, Vol. II, p. 568, note 1. 



2 Ch, LXI, Vol. II, p. 54; Ch. LXIV, Vol. II, p. 98. 



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