The Cult of Naga Worship and its Assimilation into Brahmanical Tradition

Abstract

The sacred geography of Kashmir is deeply interwoven with the legends, myths and rituals of Naga Cult, which remains a symbolically rich traditions in the region. This paper traces the various stages of Naga Cult in Kashmir, its rise, development and eventual merger into the more mainstream Brahmanical tradition. The evolution of the Naga worship from its local, pre-Vedic source to its final assimilation into the general Hindu fold is mapped out, highlighting the import of mythological narrative, nature worship, and changes in the socio-cultural realm. By examining the mythological, literary and historical narratives from the Nilamata Purana, Rajatarangini and archaeological and ethnographic sources, the paper presents how the Naga Cult constitutes the core of Kashmiri culture. The tale of Satisar as the primordial lake which had submerged the valley, provides the cosmological background to understanding the presence of nagas in Kashmir. The draining of this lake by the great Sage Kashyap and settling of first human inhabitants, marks a serious transformation; from a world ruled by mythic deities to the one mediated by Brahmanical authority. Each spring and lake was resided in by a naga lord, and thus became sites of worship and a vessel to store pre-Vedic cosmologies. Besides the intersection of Naga cult with Buddhism, especially through the legends of the heroics of Buddhist monks, reflects how syncretism and cultural negotiation gave rise to unique forms of spirituality in the region. The Naga cult thus appears not as a relic from ancient animism, but as a dynamic and evolving tradition, which linked the natural and the divine, the local and the universal.

DOI: 10.46700/asssr/2025/v7/i2/163