Buddha image Sheltered by a Naga

Keywords : Prasat Phimai, Naga-Protected Buddha , Phimai National Museum, King Jayavarman VII , Bayon

Site common name	Phimai National Museum
Type of artwork	Sculpture
Sub district	Nai Mueang
District	Phimai
Province	Nakhon Ratchasima
Region	Northeast
Country	Thailand
Geographic Coordinates Decimal degree	Lat : 15.224812 Long : 102.494452
Geographic Coordinates UTM	Zone : 47 P Hemisphere : N E : 230843.9 N : 1684737.63
Place of artwork	Inside Phimai National Museum

History of production	There is no written evidence related to the origin. However, the Bayon art style suggests that it was built around the 18^th century B.E.
Art	The Buddha image is sitting in a cross-legged position. The shin is as sharp as of the real person. The image wears a slanted yellow rope. The rope is very thin with no stripes. The face of the image is calm, the eyes are closed, the corner of the mouth slightly lifted, the hair curls in spiral, the frame of the face is a little convex. There are 3 layers of Naga supporting the image and in the back of the image, there are many Naga’s heads.
Key academic information	This Buddha image sheltered by a Naga was found in the room of Garbhagriha of Prasat Phimai. It has similar characteristics as a Buddha image in Bayon art. Its age is around the 18^th century B.E. in the reign of King Jayavarman VII. However, Prasat Phimai is now seen as a work created in early Angkor Wat art around 17^th century B.E. It is around 100 years older than this Buddha sheltered by a Naga. Therefore, this Buddha image is not the original Principle Buddha image of Prasat Phimai but it is the new one being used to replace the original one. It is unclear whether it was placed there since 18^th century B.E. or after that. The sheer amount of evidence found in Prasat Phimai during the reign of King Jayavarman VII suggests that this religious place was very significant. That is the reason why many sacred objects were found during this time.
Period	Historical Period
Art period	Lopburi, Khmer Art in Thailand, Bayon
Age	18th century B.E.
Religion	Buddhism
Sect	Mahayana
Religion and belief	Mahayana Buddhism

Type of License	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
Rights	Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation	2016-09-30
Record creator	Rungroj Thamrungraeng
Bibliography	ทนงศักดิ์ หาญวงศ์. เมืองพิมาย. กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2531. สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า. (เรียบเรียง) ประติมากรรมขอม. กรุงเทพฯ : กรุงสยามการพิมพ์, 2515. สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า. ศิลปะสมัยลพบุรี. กรุงเทพฯ : มหาวิทาลัยศิลปากร, 2547.