Statuette of Buddha Protected by Mucalinda

CAMBODIA

The portrayal of the protection of the Buddha by the Naga King Mucalinda was a common theme in sculpture and artifacts from the Angkor period. In this statuette, the image of the seated Buddha and the elongated base were cast separately and riveted together. The Buddha wears a crown and has a broad face. His upper body is bare. Earrings, necklaces, armlets, and bracelets decorate the body, and his hands form the dhyana (meditation) mudra. The throne is formed by coiled naga, and above the Buddha is a seven-headed naga representing Mucalinda. The high and narrow column forming the base is decorated with human-bodied lions at the top, while at the bottom there is a mythical creature known as a taotie.