Naga

Naga, (Sanskrit: “serpent”) are mythical semi-divine beings, half-human and half-cobra.

    Nagas are a strong, handsome species that can assume one of three forms: wholly human, wholly serpentine, or half-human and half-snake. The female nagas (naginis or nagis) are serpent princesses of striking beauty.   In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist mythology, they are potentially dangerous but often beneficial to humans.   They live in an underground kingdom called Nagaloka, or Patalaloka, which is filled with resplendent palaces, beautifully ornamented with precious gems.   According to legend, the Hindu creator deity Brahma relegated the nagas to the nether regions when they became too populous on earth. Brahma also commanded them to bite only the truly evil or those destined to die prematurely.   Naga are associated with waters—rivers, lakes, seas, and wells—and are guardians of treasure.
Their eternal mortal enemies are the Garudas, the legendary semi-divine bird /eagle shifter.   The dynasties of Manipur in northeastern India, the Pallavas in southern India, and the ruling family of Funan (ancient Indochina) each claimed an origin in the union of a human being and a nagi.