165 - A SANDSTONE NAGA BUDDHA, 11TH CENTURY, BAPHUAN PERIOD

A SANDSTONE NAGA BUDDHA, 11TH CENTURY, BAPHUAN PERIOD Dimensions: Height 53 cm Wide 25 cm Depth 15 cm without base Weight: 15.196 grams with base This finely carved sandstone sculpture depicts the Buddha seated in meditation (dhyāna mudrā) upon the coils of the serpent-king Mucilinda, whose seven hoods rise protectively above his head. Such imagery refers to the famous episode in Buddhist lore when Mucilinda shielded the meditating Buddha from a violent storm shortly after his enlightenment, embodying both divine protection and the harmony of natural and spiritual realms. The figure sits cross-legged in serene composure, the facial features rendered with characteristic Baphuon-period softness: a broad, calm face with a subtle smile, framed by tightly curled hair and a domed ushnisha. The proportions are harmonious, with the torso modeled simply yet elegantly, displaying the idealized form typical of Khmer aesthetics. The serpent’s coils are powerfully executed, creating a rhythmic pedestal that conveys stability and spiritual grounding. The Baphuon period (11th century) represents a high point in Angkorian art, marked by refined elegance and symbolic power. Sculptures of the Naga Buddha from this era are especially revered, as they reflect both Buddhist devotion and the integration of older serpent cults into Khmer religious life.