Traditions about nÃÂgas are also very common in all the Buddhist countries of Asia. In many countries, the nÃÂga concept has been merged with local traditions of great and wise serpents or dragons such as the Burmese nat. In Tibetan religion, the nÃÂga was equated with the klu that dwell in lakes or underground streams and guard treasure. In China, the nÃÂga was equated with the Chinese dragon The Buddhist nÃÂga generally has the form of a great cobra, usually with a single head but sometimes with many. At least some of the nÃÂgas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human semblance. In Buddhist painting, the nÃÂga is sometimes portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head.[11] One nÃÂga, in human form, attempted to become a monk; when telling it that such ordination was impossible, the Buddha told it how to ensure that it would be reborn a human, able to become a monk.
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