The nāgas would be the followers of Virūpākṣa (Pāli: Virūpakkha), among the 4 Heavenly Kings who guards the western path. They act as guards on Mount Sumeru, shielding the dēvas of Trāyastriṃśa from assaults via the asuras. This divine ideal to rule gave the kings huge electrical power and authority, https://messiahukxju.mycoolwiki.com/7758737/details_fiction_and_naga_empire