Naga

Naga is an Oceanic name from Bali (Indonesia). The lintang of naga is found in intersection of Wraspati (Thursday, in saptawara) and Kliwon (in pancawara) in a series of palelintangan. Lintang naga means dragon constellation.

Etymology and History

Naga (IPA: /ˈna.ɡa/, [ˈna.ɡa]) is inherited from Malay naga, and derived from Sanskrit नाग, nāgá, means “large snake”. Some languages borrow Sanskrit terms and have the same meaning as snake, namely: Iban, Indonesia, Italian, Javanese, Malay, Marano, Portuguese, Tagalog and Yakan.

Origin of Constellation

Naga are legendary creatures and exist in the folklore of almost every tribe and civilization in the world. Naga could be referred to as a big snake, a big water snake or a dragon. Unlike in some civilizations which consider dragons to be evil monsters, in Bali, dragons are considered to be sacred figures who are able to guard the island of Bali. Apart from that, there are quite a few depictions of dragons in several places such as temples, houses, government offices and former buildings left over from the Balinese kingdom. Sometimes they also make dragon ornaments on keris (traditional Balinese dagger).

Mythology / Religion

Naga Besukih

The presence of the Balinese mythological creature, Naga Besukih, cannot be separated from the folklore about the formation of the Bali Strait. The story involves Manik Angkeran who was the son of a Brahmin named Sidi Mantra.

Sidi Mantra was famous for his supernatural powers while his son, although brave and clever, apparently had a penchant for gambling which made him in debt. To free himself from debt, Sidi Mantra told Manik Angkeran to ask for a little treasure guarded by Naga Besukih in the crater of Mount Agung.

The dragon agreed to the request. However, Manik apparently repeated his bad habits so he secretly returned to Naga Besukih to give him help. Blinded by the treasure stored in Naga Besukih's body, Manik cut off the dragon's tail.

With his supernatural powers, Besukih managed to burn Manik to ashes when the dragon licked his tracks. Sidi Mantra then begged Naga Besukih to revive his son on the condition that his tail be returned.

With his magical powers, Sidi Mantra managed to restore the Dragon's tail and the child came back to life. Manik then apologized and promised not to repeat his actions. After disappearing, a water source appeared where Manik stood, which grew larger and larger. With his stick, Sidi Mantra made a dividing line with the child. That place later became the Bali Strait.

Antaboga

Antaboga or Anantaboga is a Balinese mythological creature who rules snakes from a puppet story. This creature has the form of a dragon snake with a crown and a gold necklace. According to local beliefs, Antaboga has many powers and one of them is the ability to revive dead bodies. This creature is said to live in Saptapralata or the seventh layer of the earth's base. He has a wife named Dewi Supreti who also has the form of a dragon and two children named Bambang Naga Tatmala and Dewi Nagini.

Taksaka

Taksaka or Taksa is one of the dragons, the son of Dewi Kadru and Kashyapa who lives in Nagaloka with his other brothers. In the Mahabharata legend, Naga Taksaka is the dragon who killed King Parikesit.

The story of Taksaka appears in the Adiparwa story where Dewi Kadru asks Resi Kasyapa to grant her a thousand children. Bagawan Kasyapa then gives a thousand eggs, from which dragons emerge, one of which is Taksaka. But in Balinese mythology, Taksaka is not a dragon but a snake who lives in Kahyangan.

Image Variants

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  Lintang Naga (CC-BY Alfred Maaß, (1929), Astrologische Kalender der Balinesen)

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  Lintang Naga in the cloth (CC-BY UPTD Museum Bali)

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  Lintang Naga (CC-BY Youla Azkarrula taken in the ceiling of Taman Gili Klungkung Palace Bali)

Cultural Beliefs

Numerology (Neptu/Urip)

Wraspati (Thursday, in saptawara) has a value of 8 and Kliwon (in pancawara) has a value of 8. Thus, the total urip on this lintang is 16.

Astrological Characteristics

Often makes trouble for his enemies, his joys and sorrows are balanced, has talent in literature, always performs praises to God and is firm in meditation. His mantras and curses are bathing. Has many memories, has a clean heart. Unfortunately they are very easily offended and sensitive so that with this nature they are often swayed by their own feelings.

Matching Gemstones

Biduri bulan (moon stone), Nila (saphire), Kalimayah (Opal).

All HIP Stars within this constellation

DEmax	DEmin	RAmax	RAmin	area / °²	total number of stars
6.41880152	-31.85762444	-131.693801	-199.730407		126

HIP 43109, HIP 43234, HIP 43570, HIP 43813, HIP 43902, HIP 44738, HIP 45167, HIP 46221, HIP 46288, HIP 46390, HIP 46504, HIP 46509, HIP 46529, HIP 46543, HIP 46776, HIP 46869, HIP 46893, HIP 46982, HIP 47242, HIP 47249, HIP 47427, HIP 47431, HIP 47454, HIP 48341, HIP 48351, HIP 48356, HIP 48437, HIP 48839, HIP 49293, HIP 49402, HIP 49569, HIP 49689, HIP 49802, HIP 49809, HIP 49812, HIP 49841, HIP 49865, HIP 49900, HIP 50292, HIP 50414, HIP 50536, HIP 50552, HIP 50584, HIP 50693, HIP 50790, HIP 50885, HIP 51046, HIP 51069, HIP 51490, HIP 51491, HIP 51656, HIP 51852, HIP 51905, HIP 51933, HIP 52009, HIP 52085, HIP 52113, HIP 52391, HIP 52737, HIP 52943, HIP 52948, HIP 52980, HIP 53252, HIP 53259, HIP 53316, HIP 53387, HIP 53723, HIP 53740, HIP 53778, HIP 53849, HIP 54029, HIP 54048, HIP 54214, HIP 54255, HIP 54682, HIP 54703, HIP 54742, HIP 54749, HIP 55282, HIP 55598, HIP 55687, HIP 55705, HIP 55874, HIP 56078, HIP 56245, HIP 56280, HIP 56293, HIP 56332, HIP 56343, HIP 56364, HIP 56802, HIP 56830, HIP 56899, HIP 56901, HIP 57001, HIP 57079, HIP 57283, HIP 57507, HIP 57613, HIP 57732, HIP 57749, HIP 58082, HIP 58158, HIP 58188, HIP 58436, HIP 58574, HIP 58587, HIP 59199, HIP 59316, HIP 59394, HIP 59728, HIP 59803, HIP 59895, HIP 60157, HIP 60189, HIP 60425, HIP 61015, HIP 61208, HIP 61270, HIP 61359, HIP 61496, HIP 61951, HIP 62448, HIP 63243, HIP 64166, HIP 64962

References

• References (general)