| Is there a mystery here to be unravelled? Is there a | | | | descended from the Scythic race and when the |
| serpent code being held by the Grail myths? Can we | | | | Brahmins invaded India they found a race of wise men, |
| uncover this code by taking a look at the Lady of | | | | half gods, half demons (snakes). These men were said |
| Lake? The answer is yes to all these questions, for | | | | to be teachers of other nations and themselves |
| held within the folds of the coiled snake we shall | | | | instructed the Hindu's and Brahmans.In the Bhagavata |
| discover the truth of the origin of the Arthurian tales | | | | Purana there is a description of the Bila-svarga or the |
| and the strange watery Lady who was to give Arthur | | | | regions of the Nagas said to be subterranean. Some |
| his sword.There are various names attributed to the | | | | of the names associated with this place relate |
| 'Lady of the Lake;' Nimue and Vivienne are the two | | | | remarkably to the Mesoamerican and South American |
| most used, but most pertinent to us here is 'White | | | | terms such as Tlaloc. "My dear king, beneath this earth |
| Serpent.' Nimue is probably Mneme or Mnemosyne, | | | | are seven other planets [seven is important in |
| who is one of the Muses or 'water nymphs' from | | | | Atlantean myths - seven islands!], known as Atala, |
| Roman and Greek mythology and who gave out | | | | Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rstala and Patala... the |
| weapons - just as the Lady of the Lake did. Vivienne | | | | residents are known as Daityas, Danavas and Nagas . |
| in all likelihood comes from Vi-Vianna or Co-Vianna the | | | | . . brilliantly decorated cities . . . wonderful houses, walls, |
| 'water goddess' or Coventina of Celtic origin | | | | gates, assembly houses, temples, yards and temple |
| ('Coventina's Well' also had a skull offering discovered | | | | compounds . . . The houses for the leaders of these |
| which is important in the worship of snakes and | | | | planets are constructed with the most valuable jewels, |
| wisdom [1].)These water deities are strongly related to | | | | and are always crowded with the living entities known |
| the story of serpent worship, and united with the tale | | | | as Nagas and Asuras . . . Many great serpents reside |
| of the sword or weaponry, it introduces the duality of | | | | there with gems on their hoods, and the effulgence of |
| peace and war so well known in the serpent myths. | | | | these gems dissipates the darkness in all directions. |
| The sword pierces and strikes and involves | | | | Since the residents of these planets drink and bathe in |
| contemporaneously, the image of the serpent upon the | | | | juices and elixirs made from wonderful herbs, they are |
| blade via the unique metallurgy employed. This | | | | freed from all anxieties and physical diseases. They |
| wonderful metallurgy of the Middle Ages and beyond | | | | have no experience of gray hair, wrinkles or invalidity." |
| reveals to us in actual artefacts that the serpent itself | | | | (Bhagavata Purana)There is currently a lot of debate |
| was fashioned into the blade as part of the process. | | | | about the original inhabitants of India - whether Aryan |
| This of course relates to the fact that Arthur's sword | | | | or Naga, but the fact remains, whether the Nagas |
| was said to be a fiery serpent in the Dream of | | | | were Aryans or not, they were an ancient inhabitant. |
| Rhonabwy. When Arthur's sword is drawn it was said | | | | The very fact that they were mentioned in the ancient |
| that two flames of fire burst out of the jaws of the | | | | Rig Vedas shows this to be true. They also |
| two serpents, and so wonderful was the sword that it | | | | intermarried with the Royal families, hence the popular |
| was hard for anyone to gaze at it. It is necessary for | | | | myths of serpent kings."Then come the Naaga, the |
| Arthur to maintain ownership of the sword, whether it | | | | Siren serpents, whose worship has been so important |
| is the sword from the stone or Excalibur, as it ensures | | | | a factor in the folklore, superstition, and poetry of India |
| his victory and his life. The infamous Arthurian writer, | | | | from the earliest times down to-day. Cobras in their |
| Malory, indicates the brightness of the sword and its | | | | ordinary shape, they lived, like mermen and mermaids, |
| fiery aspect, writing: "but it was so bright in his enemies | | | | more beneath the water, in a great luxury and wealth, |
| eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches." But the sword | | | | more especially of germ, and sometimes, as we shall |
| in the stone does not last long and the Lady of the | | | | see, the name is used of the Dryads, the tree-spirits, |
| Lake gives Arthur his Excalibur, and also a serpent | | | | equally wealthy and powerful. They could at will and |
| scabbard, which ensures eternal life. Malory states | | | | often did, adopt the human form and though terrible if |
| quite clearly "for whiles ye have the scabbard upon | | | | angered, were kindly and mild by nature. Not |
| you, ye shall never lose no blood, be ye never so sore | | | | mentioned either in the Veda or in the pre-Buddhist |
| wounded; therefore keep well the scabbard always | | | | Upanishads, the myth seems to be a strange jumble |
| with you." It is only when Arthur's half sister Morgan le | | | | of beliefs, not altogether pleasant, about a strangely |
| Fay steals the scabbard and replaces it that Arthur | | | | gifted race of actual men; combined with notions |
| becomes susceptible to the deadly blows of Mordred. | | | | derived from previously existing theories of tree |
| The once prized sword is then returned to the water, | | | | worship, and serpent worship, and river worship. But |
| the home of the Lady of the Lake - the serpent | | | | the history of the idea has still to be written. The |
| spirit.There is a remarkable resemblance between the | | | | Naagas are represented on the ancient bas-reliefs as |
| tales of Arthur's sword and an unsuspecting Chinese | | | | men or women either with cobra's hoods rising behind |
| legend. A hero from the 6th century BC named Wu | | | | their heads or with serpentine forms from their waist |
| Tzu-hsu threw his sword into a river "It shot forth like a | | | | downwards." Rhys Davies, Buddhist India, p.223.These |
| spirit-glow, sparkling brightly as it thrice sank and thrice | | | | tree deities were Nagas anyway as Rhys Davies |
| came to the surface with a great gush and then | | | | continues on page 223 "The tree-deities were called |
| hovered above the water. The god of the river . . . | | | | Naagas, and were able at will, like the Naagas, to |
| heard the swords roar . . . he rolled in the waters in a | | | | assume the human form and in one story the spirit of |
| great and frothing frenzy . . . Dragons raced along the | | | | a Nunyan tree who reduced the merchants to ashes |
| waves and leaped out of the water. The river god | | | | is called a Naaga-raja, the tree itself is a dwelling place |
| held the sword in his hand and, frightened, told Wu | | | | of Naaga. It seems that they also left behind myths of |
| Tzu-hsu to take it back." (Mair 1983, 141 and 286.) This | | | | healing as a story in the Journal of the Bombay Branch |
| story related in the 8th century AD simply cannot | | | | of the Asiatic Society demonstrates. When there was |
| differ from Malory's tale of the sword. In China there | | | | an epidemic among the children, it seems the only |
| were tales of great swords such as Dragon Spring | | | | answer was to bring them to a snake skin which was |
| and others still that leap into the waters surrounded by | | | | hung on a pole and allow them to touch it - reminding |
| dragons, which churn up the water. Wu Tzu-hsu's | | | | us of the idea of the Brazen Serpent of Moses, which |
| sword is also called Dragon Spring. [2]And this Dragon | | | | was upon a pole and for the healing of the "children" of |
| Spring carries us back again to the water nymphs | | | | Israel. This may explain why it is that the tree-gods are |
| who were seen universally as controlling the essential | | | | not specially and separately mentioned in the Maha |
| essence of life via their relationship with the healing | | | | Samaya list of deities who are there said by the poet |
| waters, springs and lakes. Coventina was worshipped | | | | to have come to pay reverence to the Buddha."The |
| widely and it is highly likely that the Arthurian Morgan | | | | history of the Nagas that we do have, textually |
| Le Fay is associated with her, as her name implies | | | | beginning around the 7th century BC is an amazing |
| water nymph. There are also elements, which | | | | history of ups and downs. It parallels the rise and fall of |
| introduce her into the 'Triple Goddess' of the Celtic | | | | the serpent worshipped by the Semites, with the |
| religion and therefore relating her to Bridgid. She was a | | | | Brazen Serpent being raised in the wilderness and then |
| great goddess of healing; linked strongly with water | | | | broken up in the temple. Like Melusine and Sibillia, Tante |
| nymphs - and in relation to the sword she was also a | | | | Arie also loved to plunge into cool pools in her caverns |
| great smith.She also owned an apple orchard, which | | | | of Milandre where she changed into a vouivre or |
| relates nicely to Avalon, the isle of apples. Her day is | | | | serpent; bringing to mind the concept that the |
| called Imbolc - around the 2nd February - but it is also | | | | shape-shifting Nagas of India which were said to |
| known as Oimelc, Candlemas and in the USA as | | | | reside in the underwater realms. Surely these ladies of |
| 'Groundhog Day.' This special event in the American | | | | ancient lore are folk memories of serpent worshipping |
| calendar involves of course the mass killing of snakes, | | | | leaders from the past - and a positively feminine one |
| and relates to the tale of Bridgid's snake, which comes | | | | at that. The Nagas were also said to have jewels in |
| out of the mound from which it had been hibernating.At | | | | their foreheads, like many other serpents from legend. |
| Oimelc it is said that the singers cry, "The day of Bride, | | | | As if knowing this, the vouivre too wears a jewel in |
| the birthday of spring, The serpent emerges from the | | | | the middle of her forehead. The Nagas are also said |
| knoll." And in winter, Scottish folk poems still speak of | | | | to protect great treasure, so too do the ladies of |
| the serpent that dwells in the hillside.As the 'Lady of | | | | European lore.We know that the Scythians were |
| the Lake' forged Arthur's sword, so too the various | | | | great worshippers of the serpent from many sources |
| parts of these ancient goddesses simply must have | | | | - as in the bracelets found, which the women wore as |
| been collated together in the form of this Arthurian | | | | symbols of fertility. The Scythians were intimately |
| water goddess - a new deity forged.These | | | | linked with the Naga, serpent worshippers of India via |
| goddesses, all basically the same, are also related to | | | | trade and war. They came to Europe via several |
| Sibyl or the Sibillia who presides over witches; and in | | | | means - one of them as hired hands of the Romans, |
| the Ukraine one of the names for 'witch' actually | | | | and in this way crept into the Arthurian legend. |
| means 'snake,' and in Russia it was believed that | | | | Herodotus tells us of an account of the Scythian |
| witches had snake tails. This sheds more light on the | | | | snake goddess who was mistress of the land where |
| idea that witches mixed their famous brews and elixirs | | | | the Dniepr flowed into the Black Sea. This Scythian |
| in their cauldrons, very much like the cauldron such as | | | | serpent goddess was also a cave dweller.The xana |
| the one discovered at Gundestrup. For if it is true what | | | | serpent goddesses of Asturias even had a sacred |
| we uncovered in The Serpent Grail, then this brew | | | | and valuable chalice stolen by a human, only to |
| was serpent venom and blood.Sibillia has the 'power | | | | eventually deposit the famed cup in a Church - thus |
| over life' and touches baskets and bottles with her | | | | taking the sacred cup from the serpent and giving it to |
| wand to restore them afresh. Sibillia taught magical | | | | Christianity. These xana's kept their treasures in a |
| arts in her serpent grotto where shape-shifting fairies | | | | "serpent cave" immersed in pools, remarkably like the |
| reminiscent of the naginis (female serpents) of India | | | | Patala of the Nagas. |
| emerge and dance around. These fairies are said to | | | | In Wales the serpents were said to emerge and |
| turn into snakes each Saturday. Anyone who wished | | | | congregate on Midsummer's Eve to blow into the |
| to enter this Sybil Cave must love snakes or suffer | | | | Serpent Stones / Eggs or Glain Neidr which is |
| the consequences. Sibillia is also seen in the Life of | | | | reminiscent of Pliny's tale of this activity amongst the |
| Robin Goodfellow (similar to Robin Hood and which | | | | Gauls. The snakes are said to create eggs or |
| means "bright or shining hood") as Sib, who speaks for | | | | alternatively 'new life.' In Wales these serpent stones |
| the fairies. She says that they live in "some great hill, | | | | were said to be coloured pebbles, which gave 'second |
| and from thence we do lend money to any poore | | | | sight' and healing.Midsummer's Eve was the night when |
| man or woman that hath need." In the 15th century, | | | | the serpents would role themselves into hissing balls |
| Perceforest has her as the 'Lady of the Lake.'In | | | | and create the glain egg, also known as 'snake stone' |
| Scottish myth one of these fairies lived inside a tree | | | | or 'Druid's egg.' In Welsh myth even Merlin himself went |
| and often appeared holding a limpet shell containing the | | | | in search of them.Victor H. Mair of the University of |
| 'milk of wisdom' which was called the "copan Moire" or | | | | Pennsylvania also points to the association between |
| "Cup of Mary" in her hands - an obvious allusion to the | | | | the Scythian and the Arthurian tales: "The Nart sagas |
| 'life-giving' element and wisdom of these snake, | | | | [repositories of Scythian traditions] contain parallels with |
| shape-shifters remembered in legend.There are many | | | | Arthurian legend so numerous and so uncannily close |
| other tales, which link these European snake | | | | that it is impossible they are unrelated."Interestingly, |
| shape-shifters to the Nagas of India and we would just | | | | remains of these Scythians have been found on the |
| like to break off for a moment to take a look at these | | | | Silk Road to China. Remains here of Caucasians dates |
| peculiar deities.Naga is a Sanskrit term meaning literally | | | | back even before that and at present stand |
| Serpent (especially cobra) but it also holds the | | | | somewhere in the region of 3,000 years BC, with |
| meanings - a tree; a mountain; the sun; the number | | | | female Shaman being buried in full regalia, tattoos of |
| seven; wisdom and initiate - all symbols and emblems | | | | spirals and zig zags and long finger nails. This in itself |
| we will become familiar with in the worship of the | | | | shows the widespread travel of these Scythians or |
| serpent. They are said to reside in Patala, however this | | | | those like them and the transport of ideas, possible |
| has a meaning similar to antipodes, the same name | | | | many thousands of years ago. In China of course, we |
| given by the ancients to the America's. It is a similar | | | | find the serpents or dragons as friendly creatures who |
| term to the Mexican Nagals, the medicine (healers) and | | | | become the ancestors of the very Emperor's |
| sorcerers who always kept a god in the shape of a | | | | themselves and seep into Chinese alchemy as |
| serpent. In Burma they are Nats or serpent gods. | | | | symbols of the Elixir.So, in summing up, what do we |
| Esoterically Naga is a term for wise men. There is a | | | | have? We have serpent deities, across the world, living |
| folk tradition that Nagas washed Gautama (Buddha) at | | | | in underwater kingdoms, making great weapons and |
| his birth - the wise men visiting the deity on Earth and | | | | guarding wondrous treasures. We have etymology |
| cleansing the enlightened one. They are also said to | | | | linking them to the Lady of the Lake and we have |
| have guarded him and the relics of his body after his | | | | Arthurian links and Grail connections through the mighty |
| death.According to H. P. Blavatsky in Theosophical | | | | warrior race of the Scythians. In short, we have here, |
| Glossary, the Naga were descended from Rishi | | | | the truth of the Lady herself and the origin of the Grail |
| Kasyapa who had twelve wives (therefore he is the | | | | mythos is yet again to be found within the tale of the |
| sun), by whom he had numerous Nagas (serpents) | | | | snake. History, it seems, needs re-appraising.Notes |
| and was the father of all animals. Rishi Kasyapa can | | | | 1 See The Serpent Grail by Philip Gardiner and Gary |
| therefore be none other than a progenitor of the | | | | Osborn, Watkins, 2005. |
| Green Man, and this explains the reasons for the | | | | 2 See for more information about the serpent sword |
| appearance of the snake in images of the Green Man | | | | or visit and go to articles.Permission to re-print this |
| and Horned God, such as the Gundestrup | | | | article is hereby given by Philip Gardiner and Gary |
| Cauldron.There is also a theory that the Nagas | | | | Osborn, Sept 2005. |