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It is a mystery about how
dragons, considered mythical, landed up as a part of every culture. No matter
how different the societies and religions and beliefs are, there is a mention
of them in lore or religious texts or in oral traditions. While I can’t comment
on the history behind the belief in dragons (a topic best left to experts), I
can try to list some of the more popular beliefs and superstitions about this majestic
creature.
In Bulgarian folklore, dragons are said to appear during spring and summer and cause droughts and torrential rains and thunderstorms. Apart from these nature threats, they could also control the fertility of the fields and the fates of people. In Slavic Mythology, dragons are said to be reincarnations of carps and grass snakes explaining the fish/snake like tails of the dragons and their flake covered bodies. There is a belief that it is only when two dragons have a fight that thunderstorms and torrential rains depend on us. People also believed that it was dragons that caused lunar and solar eclipses – apparently they did so by swallowing the moon and the sun. Most cultures used to believe that shooting stars were actually dragons flying to their destinations. People believe that dreaming of dragons is a sign of good luck, especially the Chinese. Modern psychology states that dreaming of dragons is a symbol of you fighting your base instincts for more mature goals. What are some of the dragon beliefs/superstitions you have come across? |
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Beliefs and Superstitions about Dragons
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
4 Real Beasts that (Possibly) Inspired the Dragon Myth
Popularized by books,
folklore,
art,
movies
and now dragon
games online, the dragon myth shows no
sign of easing off its hold on our collective imagination. Different cultures
across the world feature exotic serpentine creatures – some have wings, some
breathe fire, some are repulsively scaly, some grant wishes, some guard
treasure and some bring rain to parched lands.
Despite their differences, dragons in myriad
cultures reflect the hopes and fears of the people and the characteristics of
local animals. So if you thought these fire-breathing monsters were purely the
creation of a hyperactive mind, take a look at 4 real beasts that look and
sometimes even act like dragons.
Chinese
Alligator
In Chinese mythology, dragons are rain gods
that can bring relief in times of drought but equally capable of doling out
devastating floods when roused to fury. It is believed that the Chinese
alligator – a reptile teetering on the verge of extinction – is the creature
that inspired the Chinese dragon. A full-grown Chinese alligator is
approximately 6 feet long and stealthily awaits its victims just below the surface
of the water.
Python
Native to Southeast Asia, the reticulated
python is considered to be the prototype of the Indian dragon – a wingless creature
possessing both human and reptilian traits. The multi-headed Naga prefers to live in water but can
magically assume human shape at will. Like its mythical counterpart, the python
is a gigantic creature that can constrict its prey to death. During his travels
through India, Pliny, one of the greatest naturalists of Rome, claimed to have
seen an enormous dragon squeezing an elephant to death and meeting its doom as
the defeated elephant falls and crushes it to death. This “dragon” is believed
to be none other than an exaggerated version of the reticulated python.
Flying
Dragon
It’s easy to see how the mythical dragon got
its ability to fly – from the flying dragon of Southeast Asia of course! These
small lizards glide between trees in their native habitat with the help of
folds of skin that resemble wings. Flying dragons grow up to 7 inches and have
brightly patterned bodies that can help them blend into their surroundings. They
subsist on ants, termites and other small insects.
Komodo
Dragon
The 10 feet long Indonesian Komodo dragon is
the world’s largest living lizard and is one of the best candidates for the
inspiration behind the fire-spewing dragons of mythology. The Komodo dragon is
lethal reptile armed with an infectious bite and a heavily muscled tail and it
can immobilize and kill live prey much larger than itself. But there’s a very
good reason why the Komodo dragon couldn’t have been the prototype of the
ancient dragon – Europeans did not discover it until the early 20th
century.
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