Naga Muchalinda protecting the throne of the Buddha

Description

The Vinaya Pitaka, during the forty-nine days of contemplation by Buddha before he attained enlightenment. In the third week, Buddha sat across the banks of Niranjana River under a Muchalinda tree, which was protected by the snake-king. In this pillar fragment from Jagannath Tekri Stupa, the front three sides depict the symbolic representation of Buddha in early Buddhist art. The central panel depicts Buddha's worship through the presence of an empty throne sheltered by a five-headed Naga Muchalinda under a tree decorated with garland streamers. Fearing harm to the Buddha during the rainy season, King Naga Muchalinda rose above the regurgitating waters and coiling himself around Buddha’s body providing shade with his hooded canopy of heads.