Ancient
Among ancient ruins in the island one may notice three groups of Naga figures carved on stone. Out of them abundant are the seven hooded Naga figures shown on guard stones. These guard stones flank the doorways of religious buildings such as stupas and image-houses. The five-hooded Naga figures are found on the banks of ponds, lakes, and tanks. The third group is very rare.
It shows the figure with nine hoods. Many of these examples are found, as told earlier, on guard stones and a few are found free-standing. The guard stones are originally free from any carvings. Later they were modified to carry purnaghta (full-pitch) motif. Still later they were modified to carry Naga figures in zoo-morphic form.
In the last stage of development the Nagas were transformed into an anthropomorphic form with the expanded seven hoods behind the head. The purnaghta has been placed on the palm. The Naga symbolises the Buddha who is intimately associated with the life of the Enlightened One. The Buddha is also called Buddha Naga in literature. It is rather difficult to attribute a feasible meaning to the number seven (hoods).