Earthly Sacred elements (Naga same

Earthly


Sacred elements (Naga same term as serpent) consorted with the clouds bearing rain. These elements bestow upon the human world all the boons of earthly happiness such as abundance of crops, cattle, prosperity, offspring, health and long life. The following notes aim to examine the way of depicting in sculpture the genii, Naga presiding over the waters.

The Vedic gods such as Visnu and Balarama are closely associated with the Nagas. God Visnu rests on the coil-bed of Ananta, king of Nagas. God Balarama, brother of Krishna had the experience of emitting a Naga out of hsi mouth while resting on the sea-beach. The Buddha spent the 6th week following the Enlightenment under the shade of a Naga king called Mucalinda. In India and Sri Lanka there is a number of examples of Naga figures in sculpture. This essay is limited to examine only some of the local specimens.