The beliefs of nagas have existed for thousands of years in the Khmer society, since the "Funan Era" till nowadays. There's a legend, a legend that gave birth to the Khmer people, during the Funan Era it is believed that the empire was ruled by a queen, named "Queen Soma." According to reports by two Chinese envoys, Kang Tai and Zhu Ying, the state of Funan in the 1st century CE, was established by the Queen Soma and Kaundinya I. Kaundinya I was given instruction in a dream to take a magical bow from a temple in modern day Cambodia and defeat Princess Soma (Chinese: Liuye, “Willow Leaf"), the daughter of the King of the Nagas. They fell in love during a battle and she married Kaundinya I (Chinese: Huntien), their lineage became the royal dynasty of Funan. Kaundinya I later built a capital and named the country 'Kambuja'. Their love story still has a hold in modern days Cambodia, Preah Thong and Neang Neak Preah Thong (Kaundinya) holding onto Neang Neak's (Soma/Naga Princess) sbai to get to another realm (ព្រះថោងតោងស្បៃនាងនាគ), nowadays it became a tradition still continuing as a ritual in Khmer wedding ceremonies. Not just weddings but there's many other Cambodian rituals that involved the Nagas like the "Dragon Monk Ordination Ceremony" (ពិធីបំបួសនាគ).