Apalala

In Buddhist mythology, Apalāla is a nāga, a serpentine water spirit who dwelled in the Swat River region, an area now part of Peshawar in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. He held the title of Naga King.

According to legend, the Buddha converted Apalāla to Buddhism, a story that became one of the most celebrated tales in Buddhist tradition and artistic representation. The narrative is commonly shared with children in Buddhist families as a teaching about finding happiness through the Buddhist faith.

The account of Apalāla's conversion, known in Pali as Apalāladamana, does not appear in the Pali Canon itself, though his name is mentioned alongside other beings who paid homage to the Buddha.

The Samantapāsādikā records that this story was among those excluded from the Three Councils. However, evidence suggests the tale was known in Sri Lanka, as Apalāla's conversion appears among the scenes illustrated in the relic chamber of the Mahāthūpa. Additionally, the Divyāvadāna indicates that Apalāla's conversion occurred shortly before the Buddha's passing.