Figure of Buddha protected by seven-headed Naga (Mucalinda). Cambodia, Khmer culture, Angkor Vat, 12th century

Figure of Buddha protected by seven-headed Naga (Mucalinda). Cambodia, Khmer culture, Angkor Vat, 12th century.
Bronze.
Provenance: Gérard Wahl dit Boyer (1944-2014). Important Parisian antique dealer. The piece comes from his widow.
Measurements: 29 cm (height).

This representation of Buddha refers to an episode in his life, when he was meditating next to a fig tree and was punished by a storm of strong wind and rain. At this moment, a compassionate Naga coiled seven times around him and spread its seven heads over him, like a roof (the Nagas belong to the mythologies of Hindustan. They are snakes, but usually assume human form). The Buddha converted him to his faith. Figures with Nâga are considered rare and originated in India, but due to the spread of Buddhism, they began to appear in many other regions, especially in Cambodia, Burma and Thailand.

Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia, is the largest preserved religious monument (or monumental complex) in the world, covering just over 162 hectares. It was originally built as a Hindu temple to the god Vishnu by the Khmer Empire, becoming an important center of Buddhism towards the end of the twelfth century (which continues today), without ever being completely abandoned, although it did go through periods of decadence (mainly after the sixteenth century). Apart from the typology of constructions (mainly two, the "mountain-temple" and the later gallery temple; designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the "devas" of Hindu mythology) it is decorated with a large number of friezes of stone bas-reliefs with various themes (Ramayana and Mahabharata on the inner walls of the outer gallery; in other areas the Battle of Lanka, the Battle of Kurukshetra, a procession of King Suryavarman II, the 32 hells and the 37 paradises or heavens of Hinduism, the Samudramanthan, Vishnu defeating "asuras" -added in the 16th century, apparently-, scenes from the life of Krishna, apsaras, devata, etc.).