Buddha sheltered by the naga Muchalinda

This rare wooden image represents a narrative associated with Buddha’s enlightenment, popular in Burmese art. Shakyamuni is shown on a lotus throne, framed by nine serpent hoods. His hand is in the earth-touching gesture (bhumisparsha mudra), signifying Buddha calling on the earth to witness his enlightenment and conquest of evil. There are several stories of Buddha and Muchalinda, the serpent king. According to one, a violent storm arrived after the Buddha achieved enlightenment and Muchalinda emerged from a lake to protect the meditating Buddha. Another tale recounts Muchalinda protecting the Buddha-to-be from the demon Mara and his armies. A small figure of the earth maiden, who wrung water from her hair to wash away Mara’s armies, appears here behind the twined body of Muchalinda.

This Buddha has the short neck and smooth cap of hair typical of late Bagan-period sculpture. Flanking the Buddha are small figures of Balikka and Tapussa, the merchants who offered Shakyamuni his first alms after attaining Buddhahood. The face below the lotus throne is the protective ogre kirtimukka, often found above the entrances to temples. The animal forms above the ogre may be deer, symbolising the Buddha’s first sermon.

Text © National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2010

From: Ron Radford (ed), Collection highlights: National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2008