Naga ascetics of Kumbh Mela are now world famous. These are the ascetics who arrive at the confluence of rivers wearing no clothes and bearing weapons. They are smeared with ash, and have matted hair. The word Naga originates from the term for the “naked ones.” They belong to various gymnasiums or akhadas, and are linked to medieval warrior ascetic cults. It is said this military order of monks was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. But in all probability they arose in the 14th century to challenge the rising might of militant Sufis known as Ghazis. Known as Gosains, Bairagis, Naths, Udasin, Yogis, they are followers of Vishnu, Shiva, Sri Chand (eldests son of Nanak), Kabir and Gorakhnath. As per Sanatani news channels, they fought and defended Gokul from the Afghan invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali in the 18th century. What is left unsaid is that they fought against Marathas too at Panipat, and even cremated the Marathas they killed.

The various mountain springs across Kashmir valley are also called Naga and have been worshipped by the local population since time immemorial. They are sometimes linked to snake gods. In Nepal, when people stopped worshipping the snake gods, the rains stopped and the rivers refused to flow.