Bodu Naga (Maldivian Sea Serpent)
Bodu Naga is a great serpent spirit in Maldivian folklore that inhabits lagoons, reefs, and deep channels between the Maldivian atolls. The name means 'Great Serpent' in Divehi (Bodu = big/great, Naga = serpent). In pre-Islamic Maldives, nagas were revered as powerful nature spirits associated with the waters that surrounded the atolls. Bodu Naga is described as a guardian of the sea, protecting certain channels, passes, and reefs. Fishermen offered prayers and small offerings before venturing into waters believed to be guarded by Bodu Naga to ensure safe passage and abundant catch. The entity