Accession Number
1978/2.28

Title
Buddha, seated in the ardha padmasana pose, in dhyana mudra and sheltered by Mucalinda

Artist(s)
Thai

Object Creation Date
1175-1225

Medium & Support
buff sandstone

Dimensions
33 in. x 12 1/2 in. x 8 3/4 in. ( 83.82 cm x 31.75 cm x 22.23 cm )

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

Label copy
March 28, 2009
Sculptures of the Buddha seated beneath the great serpent Muchalinda are based on stories that recount the long meditation of Shakyamuni (the Buddha-to-be) at Bodh Gaya. In order to interrupt his practice, the evil Mara conjured up heavy rains. Shakyamuni was so deep in his thoughts, however, that he remained undisturbed. Alarmed that the Buddha-to-be might drown, the great serpent Muchalinda coiled his body to lift Shakyamuni above the waters and then spread his great hood to shelter the Buddha from the downpour.
(Label for UMMA South and Southeast Asia Gallery Opening Rotation, March 2009)

Subject matter
The Buddha, sheltered by the Naga king Mucalinda: a scene from the life of historical Buddha. When the Buddha-to-be sat down under a Bo tree in Bodh Gaya to meditate for a period of 49 days, a great storm arose, but his concentration was unbroken. To keep him safe from the flood and the driving rain, the Naga (serpent) king Mucalinda coiled his body to life him above the waters, and spread his cobra hood to provide shelter. Images of Buddha sheltered by Mucalinda are common in peninsular Southeast Asia, where snakes were tradiionally revered as fertility symbols.

Physical Description
Sculpture of a seated male figure

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
figure

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Buddhas (visual works)
Buddhism
icons (devotional images)