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“The word Naga is rooted in Sanskrit and means “serpent.” [Further meanings from the Sanskrit- English Dictionary by Monier-Williams: m. “not moving,” a mountain (in Atharva Veda); the number 7 (because of the 7 principal mountains; any tree or plant (in Mahabharata); the sun.] In the East Indian pantheon it is connected with the Serpent Spirit and the Dragon Spirit. It has an equivalence to the Bur- mese Nats, or god-serpents. In the Esoteric Tradition it is synonymous for Adepts, or Initiates. In India and Egypt, and even in Central and South America, the Naga stands for one who is wise. “The [buddhist philosopher] Nagarjuna of India, for example, is shown with an aura, or halo, of seven serpents which is an indication of a very high degree of Initiation. The symbolism of the seven serpents, usually cobras, are also on Masonic aprons or certain systems in the Buddhist ruins of Cambodia (Ankhor) and Ceylon. The great temple-builders of the famous Ankhor Wat were considered to be the semi-divine Khmers. The avenue leading to the Temple is lined with the seven-headed Naga. And even in Mexico, we find the “Naga” which becomes “Nagal.” In China, the Naga is given the form of the Dragon and has a direct association with the Emperor and is known as the “Son of Heaven”... while in Egypt the same association is termed “King-Initiate.” The Chinese are even said to have originated with the Serpent demi-gods and even to speak their language, Naga-Krita. For a place that has no serpents, Tibet, they are still known in a symbolic sense and are called “Lu!” (Naga). Nagarjuna called in Tibetan, [becomes] Lu-trub. “In the Western traditions we find the same ubiquity for the Naga, or Serpent. One simple example is the Ancient Greek Goddess, Athena. She is known as a warrior Goddess as well as the Goddess of Wis- dom; her symbol being the Serpent as displayed on her personal shield. Of course, in Genesis the Ser- pent is a Naga who instructs the new infant (humanity) in what is called the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Christian church has, unfortunately transformed the Initiate-Teacher into a tempting and neg- ative demon-character. An apocryphal tradition says that Apollonius of Tyana, while on a visit to India, was taught by the “Nagas” of Kashmir. (See The Life of Apollonius, by Philostratos) It is felt by many scholars of the Western Tradition that the life of Apollonius was taken from the New Testament, or that the narratives of the New Testament have been taken from the life of Apollonius. This is felt because of the undisputed and clear similarities of construction of that particular narrative. “Naga is one of a handful of rare words surviving the loss of the first universal language. In Buddhism, Wisdom has always been tied, symbolically, to the figure of the Serpent. In the Western Tradition it can be found as used by the Christ in the Gospel of Saint Matthew (10:16), “Be ye therefore wise as ser- pents, and harmless as doves.” “In all mythological language the snake is also an emblem of immortality. Its endless representation with its tail in its mouth (Ouroboros), and the constant renewal of its skin and vigor, enliven the sym- bols of continued youth and eternity. “The Serpent's reputation for positive medicinal and/or life-preserving qualities have also contributed to the honors of the Serpent as STILL seen by the employment of the caduceus [staff around which two snakes are wrapped]. To this very day, the Hindus are taught that at the end of every Universal Manifes- tation (Kalpa) all things are re-absorbed into Deity during the interval between “creations.” He reposes upon the Serpent Shesha (Duration) who is called Ananta, or Endless.” The Slavic folklore often mentions snakes as the guards of treasures hidden underground or in caves closely following the Vedic tradition. Some of the snakes are said to possess a crown which is an inter- esting detail as we will see later. 304 Appendix E: Dragons and Serpents Serpent in Cultural Traditions Indo-European (Slavic) Folklore Atlantis, Alien Visitation, and Genetic Manipulation