초기베다시대에 인도아리안의 주신 Indra의 적으로써 악의 총합체로 간주되어온 nga는 물과 관련된 초월적 능력을 가진 존재로 인식되었다. 그러나 리그베다시대에 nga는 신앙의 대상으로서의 위치를 가지고 있지 못하였다. 후기베다시대에 들어오면서 nga는 그들이 가진 동물적 특징, 즉 맹독을 가진 존재로 그에 대한 인간의 두려움에 근거하여 신앙의 대상으로 다른 아리안의 신격과 기타 민간신앙의 신격들과 더불어 신앙대상의 위치를 가지게 된다.초기불교문헌에 묘사된 nga는 그들이 가진 자연적 존재로서의 특징과 신화적 요소가 결합된 신격화된 존재로서 다양한 성격을 가진 존재로 언급된다. 그들은 맹독을 가진 그들의 동물로서의 특징과 관련하여 붓다와 인간에게 적대적이고, 두렵고, 위험한 존재로 묘사되며, 또한 불교문헌에서 붓다의 신통력에 굴복한 존재로 붓다와 인간에게 이로움과 세속적 부와 행복을 가져다 주는 존재로도 묘사된다.그들은 뱀이 가진 자연적 본성과 신화적 성격이 결합되어 민간신앙의 가장 인기있는 신격으로 자리잡게 되고 다른 고등종교에서 하나의 신앙적 요소로 자신의 존재를 각인시키게 된다.그러나 초기불교문헌에서 언급되는 nga는 그들이 가진 물, 즉 비에 대한 초월적 능력을 상실한 존재로 나타나고 있으며, 붓다와 불법에 호의적인 존재임에도 불구하고 그들의 본성 때문에 예류과를 얻지 못하는 존재로 묘사된다. 그러나 초기불교문헌에서 묘사되는 nga는 일반적으로 붓다와 인간에 호의적이며 불법을 따르고 붓다와 인간을 보호하는 신격으로 등장한다.

The present paper is aimed at examining the nature of nāga described in early Buddhist literature. The serpent worship is very pupular in modern Indian society and so was in ancient society. But the serpent worship was not practised in Vedic Indian society and it was related to non-Aryan religious factor, which meant Dravidian people. In the Buddhist literature, the characteristics of nāga are divided into three, namely (1)favorable and (2)hostile to the Buddha and human beings and (3)the worshipped object. The characteristic of being favorable to the Buddha and human beings can be seen through the characteristics of nāga as mythological being and animal and the characteristic of being hostile to the Buddha and human beings, through the characteristic of nāga as an animal. A great many of mythological factors are attached to the nature of nāga as the worshipped object. It should be noted that nāga is described as the being who has lost the supernatural power of controlling water in early Buddhism, while it had supernatural power in the Vedic times, although nāga was described as a demon against Indra. In addition, it should be mentioned here that contrary to Yakkha, nāga is described as a being who is unable to attain the Sotāpattiphala in early Buddhist literature. Nāga worship has, however, significantly influenced religions which have higher doctrinal systems and is still popular in India. It has stable and powerful position to Indian people as popular belief.

The present paper is aimed at examining the nature of nāga described in early Buddhist literature. The serpent worship is very pupular in modern Indian society and so was in ancient society. But the serpent worship was not practised in Vedic Indian society and it was related to non-Aryan religious factor, which meant Dravidian people. In the Buddhist literature, the characteristics of nāga are divided into three, namely (1)favorable and (2)hostile to the Buddha and human beings and (3)the worshipped object. The characteristic of being favorable to the Buddha and human beings can be seen through the characteristics of nāga as mythological being and animal and the characteristic of being hostile to the Buddha and human beings, through the characteristic of nāga as an animal. A great many of mythological factors are attached to the nature of nāga as the worshipped object. It should be noted that nāga is described as the being who has lost the supernatural power of controlling water in early Buddhism, while it had supernatural power in the Vedic times, although nāga was described as a demon against Indra. In addition, it should be mentioned here that contrary to Yakkha, nāga is described as a being who is unable to attain the Sotāpattiphala in early Buddhist literature. Nāga worship has, however, significantly influenced religions which have higher doctrinal systems and is still popular in India. It has stable and powerful position to Indian people as popular belief.

nāga, water, early Buddhism, Jātaka, demon.