Myth Monday - A Good Serpent

There is already much material on this site on the topic of mythology (especially, Gods and Goddesses and The Stories of the Ancient Greeks). In Myth Mondays I attempt to bring up an element of mythology that is either timely or less well known.

Those familiar with the Judaeo-Christian tradition know about the wily serpent who tempted Eve into violating the order of God against tasting the forbidden fruit. In the tradition of Buddhism there is an important serpent type called a Nâga, who, far from being evil, is helpful.

In the Mahâvagga, part of the Buddhist scriptural writing, a Nâga named Mukalinda plays an important role protecting Gautama Buddha from the elements. Since the Nâga is a serpentine water deity (often referred to as a genius -- as in guardian spirit), it is fitting that cobra-like Mukalinda uses his head as an umbrella to protect Gautama from a prolonged (7-day) rain storm. Here is the passage from the Mahâvagga:

3.

1. Then the Blessed One, at the end of those seven days, arose from that state of meditation, and went from the foot of the Agapâla banyan tree to the Mukalinda tree. And when he had reached it, he sat cross-legged at the foot of the Mukalinda tree uninterruptedly during seven days, enjoying the bliss of emancipation.

2. At that time a great cloud appeared out of season, rainy weather which lasted seven days, cold weather, storms, and darkness. And the Nâga (or Serpent) king Mukalinda came out from his abode, and seven times encircled the body of the Blessed One with his windings, and kept extending his large hood over the Blessed One's head, thinking to himself: 'May no coldness (touch) the Blessed One! May no heat (touch) the Blessed One! May no vexation by gadflies and gnats, by storms and sunheat and reptiles (touch) the Blessed One!'

3. And at the end of those seven days, when the Nâga king Mukalinda saw the open, cloudless sky, he loosened his windings from the body of the Blessed One, made his own appearance disappear, created the appearance of a youth, and stationed himself in front of the Blessed One, raising his clasped hands, and paying reverence to the Blessed One.

4. And the Blessed One, perceiving that, on this occasion, pronounced this solemn utterance: 'Happy is the solitude of him who is full of joy, who has learnt the Truth, who sees (the Truth). Happy is freedom from malice in this world, (self-)restraint towards all beings that have life. Happy is freedom from lust in this world, getting beyond all desires; the putting away of that pride which comes from the thought "I am!" This truly is the highest happiness!'

Here ends the account of what passed under the Mukalinda tree. The Mahâvagga.
Source: Vinaya Texts
Translated from the Pâli by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg
Part I The Pâtimokkha
The Mahâvagga, I-IV
Oxford, the Clarendon Press [1881]