The Nāgas would be the followers of Virūpākṣa (Pāli: Virūpakkha), one of the Four Heavenly Kings who guards the western direction. They work as guards upon Mount Sumeru, guarding the dēvas of Trāyastriṃśa from attacks via the asuras. The shifting trade routes, which had at the time favored the Naga https://128.199.208.170/