Religious Life of Nagas: A Case Study of Rajatarangini

Abstract

The Rajatarangiṇi of Kalhaṇa stands as a remarkable historical text that intricately weaves together political narrative, mythic memory, and sacred geography in the cultural landscape of early Kashmir. Among its most enduring religious motifs is the presence of the Nagas—revered not merely as serpent deities, but as powerful spiritual entities embedded in the land’s ecology, cosmology, and ritual life. This study examines the religious significance of Nagas as portrayed by Kalhaṇa, drawing upon selected verses that reveal their relationship with kings, sages, natural spaces, and the spiritual well-being of the realm. The Nagas emerge as more than mythical figures—they are living forces who respond to human conduct, demand ritual reverence, and act as custodians of sacred order. Their interactions through dreams, elemental forces, and divine manifestations reflect a worldview in which nature, divinity, and society are inseparably linked. By analyzing Kalhaṇa’s nuanced representation, this paper highlights how Naga devotion served as a vital expression of religious continuity, moral order, and the spiritual ecology of Kashmir.