Description
Sandstone carved image, Khmer Figure of The Buddha in a trance seated on the great Serpent Naga, Cambodia, 12th c.
This famous iconography of Lord Buddha represents his total accord with all the great Living forces of the Earth and his mutual recognition and respect of all Nature.
This amazing sculpture represents the Buddha Shakyamuni being protected by the Great Serpent (usually identified as King Muchilinda) in the form of seven serpents.
This imagery of Buddha has been known from early times, but it becomes very numerous in the medieval period. Historically, the cult of the cobra serpent as a protective deity gained prominence in South East the 12th century, possibly because the long reining king of this region was afflicted by a disease that rendered him lame and his doctors may have been trying to affect a cure through the use of medicinal potions derived from snake venom. Perhaps this is also this reason that the king built many hospitals throughout the land.
The sculpture is sensitively rendered “in the round” with equal attention given to all details on all sides.
Excellent condition, the sculpture was anciently severed at the end portion of the tail as shown on the photographs. Mildly abraded surface.
Presented on a museum quality stand. Provenance: Collection formed by an Ivy League professor in the 1970’s.
Size: 19 ½” high without the stand.
