Nagas

Nagas were snake like beings, half human and half serpentine in Indian Mythology. They were considered to be a strong, handsome race who can assume either human or wholly serpentine form. They are regarded as being potentially dangerous but in some ways are superior to humans. They live in an underground kingdom called Nāga-loka, which is filled with resplendent palaces, beautifully ornamented with precious gems. Kali is said to have relegated the Nagas to the nether regions when they became too populous on Earth and to have commanded them to bite only the truly evil or those destined to die prematurely. They are also associated with waters—rivers, lakes, seas, and wells—and are generally regarded as guardians of treasure. The female Nagas are serpent princesses of striking beauty, and the dynasties of Manipur in northeastern India, the Pallavas in southern India, and the ruling family of Funan traced their origin to the union of a human being and a Nagi.