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A Khmer Style Bronze Buddha Protected by Naga browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Southeast Asian:Metalwork: Pre 1900: item # 738269
Ichiban Japanese & Oriental Antiques Post Office Box 395 Marion, CT 06444-0395 203.272.7392 Guest Book $495.00 |
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This is a cast bronze figure of the Buddha in a seated position and protected by a five-headed Naga. The Naga’s coiled body forms the throne for the Buddha, while his five head hood rises up behind and curves over forming a protective canopy. The casting measures 4 3/8” high and is 2” wide by 1 ˝” deep. We believe it dates to the late 18th to mid 19th century from the patina, a few dents in the Naga’s hood, and some traced of verdigris oxidation at the base of the hood. After he had attained enlightenment, the Lord Buddha sat under a Banyan tree of some goatherds. After sitting beneath the Banyan tree, the Buddha then moved to sit beneath a Muchalinga tree (Jik tree) which located to the northeast of Bodhi tree. While the Buddha was staying there , the rain kept drizzling for seven days. Seeing so, a Naga named Muchalinda showed up and coiled for seven rounds, spreading the hood to protect the Buddha from a raging storm. This is an iconic figure of the Buddha in the Samadhi pose under the protection of Muchalinga and is common throughout Cambodia and Thailand. This figure is in the Bayon Style of the Khmer but dates from the late 18th to mid 19th century. The Buddhist nāga generally has the form of a large cobra-like snake, usually with a single head but sometimes with many. At least some of the nāgas are capable of using magic powers to transform themselves into a human semblance. In Buddhist painting, the nāga is sometimes portrayed as a human being with a snake or dragon extending over his head. In Sanskrit a nagha is a cobra, a specific type of snake (hooded snake). |
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