as it turns out, we were both right.
Nagas (Sanskrit: नाग nag — snake) are serpentine mythical creatures in Hinduism and Buddhism.
They are depicted as snakes with a human torso and a human head, covered from above with a fan of snake heads. They live in caves and bodies of water, on land, in water, or underground.
The mythology of the "man-snake" has ancient roots. Nagas are depicted with a human head. The nag is a symbol of wisdom. There is a cult of the snake and related holidays. It is believed that the snake-nag was the totem of one of the powerful ancient tribes, whose representatives were called nagas.