Buddha image Sheltered by a Naga

Keywords : Bangkok National Museum , Naga-Protected Buddha , Buddha, khmer art in Thailand

Artwork alternative name	Decorated Buddha Image
Site common name	Bangkok National Museum
Site alternative name	National Museum Phranakorn
Type of artwork	Sculpture
Sub district	Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang
District	Khet Phra Nakhon
Province	Bangkok
Region	Central
Country	Thailand
Geographic Coordinates Decimal degree	Lat : 13.7576 Long : 100.492222
Geographic Coordinates UTM	Zone : 47 P Hemisphere : N E : 661329.97 N : 1521418.09
Place of artwork	Inside Bangkok National Museum

History of production	No evidence related to the origin. However, the art style suggests that it was built during the 18^th century B.E.
Production process	Bronze casting
Art	The Buddha image is sitting cross-legged with the hands in a meditating position. It is sitting on rolls of the Naga’s body and at the back is the hood of Naga spreading. The face of the sculpture is in square shape decorated with many things including pointed round shape earrings, a visor, and a cone tiara that is composed of layers of lotus petals which is one of the distinctive features of the Khmer Buddha image in the Bayon style. The image is also wearing neck accessories and bracelets. Although there are spaces between the body and the arms causing the feeling of being naked which is an outstanding feature of Lopburi Arts Buddha images However, it appears to have the edge of the slanted robe on the chest and the square robe on the left. There is a round cartridge placed in the right hand. There are 3 rolls of the naga’s body that is supporting the Buddha image. The top roll is the thickest and the widest then descending in size and the decorative patterns are like snake chips. There are 7 Naga’ s heads at the back of the Buddha image. They are in an outline that looks like Bodhi leaf. The head in the middle is the largest and the other 6 heads on the side are the same size. All of the smaller heads are facing the large head.
School	Central
Key academic information	This Buddha image Sheltered by a Naga is in a perfect condition. This is one of the beautiful and important examples of Buddha images in Lopburi or Khmer Arts, Bayon style, in Thailand.
Notice	Usually, the Buddha image Sheltered by a Naga is referring to the event in the sixth week after the enlightenment. At that time, while the Buddha was sitting under an Indian Oak tree on the bank of the pond and a rainstorm was coming, the Naga Mujalin who lived in the pond came around the Buddha to protect him from the rain. However, in the Khmer culture, the popularity of the Naga Buddha image may be related to the worship of the Naga as well. In addition, the Khmer also believed that the Naga was their ancestor. All the decorations including the visor, the tiara, and the round shape earrings that are on the sculpture probably arose from the tradition of Brahmanism that offers the real items made with precious things to the Buddha image. Therefore, the decorations of Buddha images and the idols in Khmer culture are the same. Many historians think that the round cartridge in his hand might be a medicine cartridge. Therefore, the Buddha image with this round cartridge could be an image of Phra Phaisachayaguru. However, much more studies are needed to be done on this subject.
Period	Historical Period
Art period	Lopburi, Khmer Art in Thailand, Bayon
Age	18th century B.E.
Religion	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	สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า. ประติมากรรมขอม. กรุงเทพฯ : กรุงสยามการพิมพ์, 2515. สุภัทรดิศ ดิศกุล, หม่อมเจ้า. ศิลปะสมัยลพบุรี. กรุงเทพฯ : มหาวิทาลัยศิลปากร, 2547.