Questions on Nagini

[susanbones2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 75037

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "scooting2win" 
<scooting2win at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "susanbones2003" <rdas at f...> 
> wrote:
> > --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Scott Santangelo 
> > <owlery2003 at y...> wrote:
> > > > 
> > > Did you read somewhere that JKR got the Nagini thing from 
> Hinduism? 
> > I thought she might have been influenced by Rudyard Kipling's 
> Rikki 
> > Tikki Tavi story, where the family mongoose kills a family of 
> > cobras . . . "just under him whizzed by the head of Nagaina, 
Nag's 
> > wicked wife." Still the Hindu influence, certainly. Beyond the 
> name, 
> > I don't think Nagini is anything other than a big snake that's 
> > obedient to Voldy.
> > > 
> > > owlery2003
> > > 
> >  India (where Rikki Tikki Tavi takes place),Hinduism and its 
> effects 
> > are quite inseparable. Snakes in Hinduism have magical power so I 
> am 
> > sure she wanted that referenced. Read Basham's "The Wonder That 
> Was 
> > India" for the full story.
> > Jennifer
> my reply: according to canon, she word played this one, Naga is 
> Sanskrit for "snake". not sure of Sanskrit is Hindu but thought I 
> would add it. Lori

Spot on, Lori. Sanskrit is the ancient language of India and 
Hinduism. The Vedas and  the Upanishads, the two oldest sacred texts 
of Hinduism are in Sanskrit!
Jennifer