Accounts involving the Naga or serpent are found in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. They are also prominently featured in Khmer art.

The underwater kingdoms of the Naga extend across all of the world's rivers, lakes, and seas. In addition to being the keeper of the force of life stored in the waters, the Naga is also guardian of corals, shells and pearls and carries one in its head.

The early settlers of the Mekong River basin believed that the King of the Nagas is the God of an underwater kingdom called "Muang Badan". A god with almighty powers who watches over the people living in the Mekong basin.

According to ancient folklore told through the centuries, the underwater city of Muang Badan stretches beyond the Mekong itself and covers the entire subterranean realm beneath Nong Khai province, with its the capital city located near present-day Kaeng Aa-Hong, Amphoe Bueng Khan district, the deepest point in the Mekong River.

So entrenched is this ancient belief in the communities bordering the Mekong River that the eternal bond between the peoples of I-San or Northeastern Thailand and the mythical Naga is ever present in the fabric of the local culture, traditions and way of life. The tradition of floating illuminated boats on the Mekong River is one such act of worshipping the King of Nagas.

The Naga design element is incorporated into the architectural style, and depicted as motifs on structures such as temples, the palaces and stone sanctuaries of the divine kings, traditional textiles as well as the range of modern buildings such as hotels, offices, and schools.

The sinuous form of the Naga is also featured as arches around pediments, the balustrades around ponds and flanking causeways referred to as the "Naga bridge". In all of these cases, the elongated body of the Naga is symbolic of the rainbow that links the human and divine worlds.

BUDDHIST TALES OF THE NAGA
Naga, the Serpent King. is also mentioned in Buddhist folklore.

As the Lord Buddha went about his quest preaching to his disciples and devout followers, Naga, the serpent king watched in fascination and soon aspired to be one of the disciples of the Lord Buddha.

Endowed with powers to assume various forms, the Naga transformed itself into a human form and mingled in the midst of the disciples, listening to the sermons. However, when the Naga drifted off to sleep, the spell that was cast wore off and the impostor was exposed. With this revelation, the Lord Buddha told the Naga that as a beast, and not an earthling, it could not be ordained into monkhood and was forbidden from entering temples.

However, the Lord Buddha had elicited such devotion from the Naga that in spite of the ban from monkhood, Naga continued to keep its vigil over the Lord Buddha, protecting him from harm.

The statue of the Lord Buddha seated on the body of a coiled serpent and sheltered from the rain by the seven hoods of the Naga commonly featured in the Buddhist sculptures of Northeastern Thailand is one of the most significant postures.

It is said that while Lord Buddha was meditating, Mara, the Evil One sought to distract his concentration by invoking a storm. Muchalinda, the Serpent King, emerged from the roots of the tree where Lord Buddha was seated to offer protection from the rains and floods.