Buddha sheltered by the seven-headed serpent, Mucalinda

The motif of the meditating Buddha protected by the coils of the naga king Mucalinda was a favourite of Khmer sculptors and also became popular in Thailand. Nagas, ancient Indian protectors of water and earth, were important guardian spirits. Legend tells that Mucalinda shielded Buddha from rain and rising floods spreading the hoods of his seven heads as a canopy.