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