Meditating Buddha Protected by a Three-headed Serpent Deity
10th century
Asia: Thailand
Not on View

This iconic form illustrates an episode from the Buddha’s biography when, six weeks after his enlightenment in Bodhgaya, India, a terrible storm erupted. Following this event, the serpent king Muchalinda emerged from his subterranean abode, coiled around the Buddha’s body and extended his hood over the Buddha to protect him from the rain; this allowed the Buddha to continue his meditation uninterrupted.

This particular sculpture is unique in that it depicts Muchalinda with a three-headed hood rather than a seven-headed one.

Details

  • Title: Meditating Buddha Protected by a Three-headed Serpent Deity
  • Date: 10th century
  • Medium: Sandstone
  • Dimensions: 36 x 20 x 14 in. (91.4 x 50.8 x 35.6 cm)
  • Credit Line: Norton Simon Museum, Gift of Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio
  • Accession Number: P.2003.07
  • Copyright: © Norton Simon Museum

Object Information

Exceptionally Gifted: Recent Donations to the Norton Simon Museum (2002-2008)

  • Norton Simon Museum, 2009-04-17 to 2009-08-31
  • Pal, Pratapaditya, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 3: Art from Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia, 2004, fig. 12 p. 109

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