The Burmase Naga!

From Myths and Legends of South Asia and SouthEast Asia

According to Myths and Legends of South Asia and SouthEast Asia, a major myth involving the serpentine dragon, Naga. Where it explains teh origins of the crow's black feathers and why the Burmese people are poor. In begone eras, the Nagas lived in a lake in the northern mountains of Burma. One day, a Naga princess grw curious about the humans she saw fishing and washing their clothes in her waters. Eventually, she grew so curious of the humans that she disguised herself as one and watched the humans from the rocky shores. The sun saw her and fell in love with her,her longed for her so badly that one day he took the form of a human and approached her. To his delight, the naga princess returned his love and they married. The sun was so madly in love with her that he was beginning to fall behind that he must return to his duties, causing the people to complain. The people's complaining got to the point that the sun could no longer ingore his duties and told his beloved wife before returning to his duties. The naga princess reasonbly responded by weeping and gently touching her belly, as she was pregant with their child. The sun comforted her before calling for his helper, White crow. He told her that when their child is born, the crow will deliver the news to him. Of course once the sun was gone, the princess got lonely and therefore returned to her realm. Finally, when she gave birth, she had laid three eggs. She then sent White crow to tell the sun of the news. The sun of course was overjoyed at the news. He took a large ruby and put it in a silk bag and told White crow to deliver it to the princess so she can provide only the best for their children. But by the time White crow approached earth, he was hungry enough to be pulled away from his task and left the bag tied up to a tree, leaving to steal some food. Since White crow was not watching the bag, a merchant took advantage and stole the ruby and replaced it with dung and stones. White crow returned to the bag much later and took it to finish his job. He delieved the bag to the princess and she took one look at the contents and slipped back to the ocean, leaving the eggs on shore. When the sun heard of what had occured, his wrath was so bad that he punished the bird by burning the feathers black.

The book also brings up a story of a Naga princess emboding the idea of renewal, as the sun shirks his duties to his new wife during the winter, yet when he returns, the Naga princess's eggs are born. Which the book considers a sign of rebirth.

Myths and Legends of South Asia and Southeast Asia. World Book, a Scott Fetzer Company, 2015.