jaskinie: Nāga

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

In various Asian religious traditions, the Nāgas (Sanskrit: नाग, romanized: Nāga) are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala), and can occasionally take human or part-human form, or are so depicted in art. Furthermore, nāgas are also known as dragons and water spirits. A female nāga is called a Nagini (Hindi: नागिन nāgin). According to legend, they are the children of the sage Kashyapa and Kadru. Rituals devoted to these supernatural beings have been taking place throughout South Asia for at least 2,000 years. They are principally depicted in three forms: as entirely human with snakes on the heads and necks, as common serpent…

Evidence: 45 • authority: 72

A Nagaraja (Sanskrit: नागराज nāgarāja, lit. 'king of the nagas') is a king of the various races of the nāga, the divine or semi-divine, half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala), and can occasionally take human form. Rituals devoted to these supernatural beings have been taking place throughout South Asia for at least two thousand years.

Evidence: 22 • authority: 80

Consecration Rituals in South Asia: An Introduction

Evidence: 21 • authority: 72

Asian witchcraft encompasses various types of witchcraft practices across Asia. In ancient times, magic played a significant role in societies such as ancient Egypt and Babylonia, as evidenced by historical records. In the Middle East, references to magic can be found in the Torah, Bible and the Quran, where witchcraft is condemned due to its association with belief in magic. In India and Nepal, there has been cases of witch-hunting and abuse of women accused of witchcraft, including recently. Legal reforms are needed to prevent these acts of violence and marginalization against those accused of witchcraft. East Asia has diverse witchcraft traditions. In Chinese culture, the practice of Gon…

Evidence: — • authority: 72

Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya (transl. "doctrines and disciplines"), is an Indian religion and philosophy based on teachings attributed to the Buddha, a śramaṇa (wandering ascetic) and religious teacher who lived in the 6th or 5th century BCE. It is the world's fourth-largest religion, with an estimated 320 million to 540 million followers, representing approximately 4.1%–6.7% of the global population. It originated in the eastern Gangetic plain as a śramaṇa movement in the 5th century BCE, and gradually spread throughout much of Asia via the Silk Road. Buddhism has since played a significant role in Asian culture and spirituality, eventually spreading to the West in…