Naga
Naga in a Mantra Circle
A naga coiling into a closed circle, with Khom syllables at its centre and a band of text around it.
✦Meaning & Background
The naga is the sacred serpent of the Southeast Asian tradition, tied to water, thresholds and protection. In this design it coils into a closed circle, with Khom syllables at its heart and a band of text around it. A serpent closing its own ring stands for protection with no beginning and no end.
✦More about this design
The naga is found across Southeast Asia: as a stair rail at temples, as protector of the water and as the serpent that sheltered the Buddha during a storm. Among the Sak Yant designs it already appears together with the monkey god, in Hanuman and Naga. This design shows it alone, coiled into a ring. Note the difference from the dragon: the Mang Korn and the coiled dragon have legs and a different head, while the naga is a serpent. They are often confused, but in the tradition they are two distinct creatures with their own meaning. The closed ring makes this a strong protection design, comparable to the twin tigers in a mantra circle. Read about all Sak Yant symbols or book an appointment to discuss the size.
✦Frequently asked questions
What is a naga?
The naga is the sacred serpent of the Southeast Asian tradition. It is tied to water, to the guarding of thresholds and to protection.
What is the difference between a naga and a dragon?
The naga is a serpent without legs. The Thai dragon, Mang Korn, has legs and a different head. They are often confused but each carries its own meaning.
Why is this design round?
The serpent coils into a closed ring. In the yantra tradition a closed circle stands for protection without an opening.
