Mahoraga

Race of deities in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism

Translations of
Mahoraga

English| Great Reptilians
Sanskrit| महोरग
(IAST: mahoraga)
Pali| महोरग
(mahoraga)
Chinese| 摩睺羅伽
(Pinyin: móhóuluóqié)
Japanese| 摩睺羅伽
(Rōmaji: magoraga)
Korean| 마후라가
(RR: mahuraga)
Tibetan| ལྟོ་འཕྱེ་ཆེན་པོ་
Wylie: lto ’phye chen po
Vietnamese| ma hầu la già
Glossary of Buddhism

The Mahoraga (Sanskrit: महोरग), also pronounced as Maha-Uraga ("Greater Reptilians"), are a race of deities in Buddhism, and Jainism. They are the exalted ones among the Uragas, a race of primordial reptilian beings who are cousins to the nāga. Like the nāga, they are often depicted as anthropomorphic beings with reptilian bodies from the waist down. However, their appearance can differ depending on artistic tradition, sometimes having serpent skin with humanoid bodies, or having a serpent head with the body of a human.[1]

## Buddhism

[edit]

An illustration from an 1866 Japanese book. Mahoraga, who is an incarnation of Bodhisattva Kannon in this scene, gives a sermon to folks.

The Mahoraga are one of the eight classes of deities (aṣṭasenā) that are said to protect the Dharma. They are described as huge subterranean serpents who lie on their sides and rotate the earth, which occasionally causes earthquakes.[2]

Like the kinnara, the Mahoraga are also associated with instrumental music. They are understood as being associated with large serpents such as pythons, while the nāgas are more closely related to the cobra.[3]

According to the Śariputraparipṛcchā Sūtra (T. 1465), one is reborn as a mahoraga as a result of practicing generosity and upholding the Dharma, adapting to tough circumstances, and being inclined toward anger.

## In popular culture

[edit]

In Gege Akutami's manga series Jujutsu Kaisen, Mahoraga is the name of a shikigami summoned by Jujutsu Sorcerer Megumi Fushiguro.[4]

In the sci-fi franchise Infinity Horizon, the Uragas are a reptilian, semi-aquatic race known for their seafaring expertise and massive stone temples.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Nishigori, Ryosuke. Tenbu no Butsuzo Jiten. Tokyo Bijutsu, 1983
2. ^ Buswell, Robert E., Jr., & Donald S. Lopez Jr., Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press, 2013
3. ^ Kobuta, Yura & F.E.A.R. Mikkyo Mandara. Shinkigensha Co., Ltd., 2000
4. ^ Nasir, Ahmed Rehan (September 3, 2024). "Jujutsu Kaisen: The Mythology Behind the Divine General Mahoraga". Game Rant. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
5. ^ "Uragas". Infinity Horizon Wiki. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

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