Dragons are most commonly associated with China, where they are revered as honourable and courageous creatures that bring good fortune and prosperity.
Our fascination with 'dragons' precedes Game of Thrones and Harry Potter. But, they are mythical beasts, usually large creatures with long bodies, four limbs, skin covered in horns or scales, and having the ability to fly. Some cultures have fire breathing dragons, and their blood is said to be magical. Some dragon myths also show them living in the sea and these sea dragons or monsters have tentacles that they use to sink ships. Some call these sea dragons 'Kraken'.
It is believed that myths about these creatures were inspired by a variety of other animals like dinosaurs, crocodiles, large lizards, geckos, and other reptiles. Many dragons have a distinct serpent-like appearance and find mention in mythologies associated with Abrahamic religions where a snake or dragon is a messenger of Satan.
Dragons are most commonly associated with China, where they are revered as honourable and courageous creatures that bring good fortune and prosperity. Traditionally, dragons have been associated with the Chinese Emperor, after the Han dynasty made it its royal emblem. The dragon motif was also adopted by the Tang, Qin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Dragons are said to destroy humanity and punish people with floods, storms, and tidal waves if a human angers them.
Interestingly, dragons are also found in Indian mythology. Did you know we had our own dragon slayer, Lord Indra? The tale of Indra slaying Vritra a dragon with scaly skin and tentacles finds mention in both the Rig Veda and Puranic literature. Vritra had taken control of all the water in the world by blocking the path of rivers, leading to a drought. Because Vritra was a devotee of Vishnu, he had been granted a boon that he could not be killed by anything dry or wet, or during the day or night. Indra battled him for 360 days and ultimately killed him using a weapon devised from sea foam at twilight.
Similarly, the German motif of Chaoskampf is a story of a storm god fighting a sea serpent, who is the God of Chaos. Nordic mythology documents a similar battle between Thor, God of Thunder and Jormungandr.
In another version of the same story, Vritra is the dragon son of Danu — the goddess credited as the mother of all demons or danavas. He has been specially brought to earth by a yagya by Tvashta, father of Visvarupa to avenge Visvarupa's death at the hands of Indra. Even Indra is unable to beat him until Lord Vishnu himself tells Indra and the other Gods that "Only a weapon fashioned from the bones of a pious sage can kill the dragon".
Lord Vishnu directs them to approach Sage Dadheechi who gladly donates his bones.
Indra then develops a weapon, named Vajrastra, from these bones that produce thunder. He uses Vajrastra to finally slay the evil dragon Vritra. The Avestan story of Fereydun vs Azi Dahaka also has an identical premise.
The Indian state of Manipur also has rich tradition surrounding a dragon named Pakhangba, which was also the emblem of the kingdom of Manipur.
This dragon has the antlers of a deer, body of a snake, and four sturdy legs like a lion. The dragon was said to live in sacred lakes, ponds, and was seen as a protector of people. It was revered especially by the Meithei people, and has been on several royal flags and seals of dynasties that have ruled the region. Even today, one can see Pakhangba carved on doors. It can also be seen in several sculptures and tablets especially at old properties previously held by royalty.
Dragons in mythology
Leviathan: a sea monster, referenced in the Tanakh, or the Old Testament is identified with the Devil.
Beowulf: an old English poem set in Scandinavia where a Swedish warrior slays a gold-loving dragon to help the Danes, but is mortally wounded in the process.
Tolkien's Smaug: gold-loving dragon closely based on those of European legend
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