No. 2371. CATALOGUE OF BUDDHIS'J ART— CASANOW1VZ 307 



veneration and zeal for him and his doctrine. Nagas are repre- 

 sented on sculptures as giving the infant Gautama his first bath, 

 immediately after his birth. Muchilinda, the King of the Nagas, 

 protected Buddha from the rain after his enlightenment. In Budd- 

 hist art they are represented either in their animal form, as on this 

 shrine, or, more ususal, in human form with a serpent placed over 

 the head, or rather springing from behind the neck, as an ornament. 

 Sometimes both forms are combined, the upper part being human 

 with the heads crowned with serpents' hoods, while the lower part 

 of the body, from the hips downward, is purely animal. Height, 11 

 inches; width, 6f inches. Laos, Further India. (Plate 50, fig. 2, 

 Cat. No. 217595, U.S.N.M.) 



41. Buddha with disciples. — Wood, lacquered and gilt. Buddha 

 seated in meditation, as in No. 39. Around the base are, in high 

 relief, eight disciples kneeling, with hands joined, in the attitude of 

 adoration. Height, 6^ inches. Laos, Further India. (Plate 50, 

 fig. 3, Cat. No. 217594, U.S.N.M.) 



42. The earth goddess. — Octagonal plaque, red lacquered, repre- 

 senting, in high relief, the earth goddess wringing her hair. See 

 above, under No. 39. Height, 10^ inches; width, 8J inches. Laos, 

 Further India. (Cat. No. 217564, U.S.N.M.) 



43. Buddha, and nagas. — Carved of horn, lacquered and gilt. 

 Buddha, in the witness posture, is sheltered by three nagas in the 

 shape of cobras rising above his head, their coils forming his throne. 

 See above under No. 40. Height, 5£ inches. Laos, Further India. 

 (Cat. No. 217630, U.S.N.M.) 



44. Buddha and disciples. — Wood, lacquered and gilt. Buddha in 

 the witness attitude, the throne set on an octagonal hourglass-shaped 

 base. Upon the base are, crudely carved in the round, eight dis- 

 ciples kneeling with uplifted hands in adoration, surrounding the 

 throne. Compare No. 41. Height, 8f inches. Laos, Further 

 India. (Cat. No. 217604, U.S.N.M.) 



45. Buddha. — Wood, lacquered and gilt. Seated in the witness 

 position. The head covering is in form of an open lotus, from which 

 proceed seven rays. The figure with its base is socketed into a 

 throne formed of a crouching demoniac figure wound with the coils 

 of two serpents, the tails of which he holds in his mouth. Perhaps 

 intended for the Garuda, the mythical bird of India, who, like the 

 Nagas (serpents), has the faculty of assuming human form, but is 

 their deadly enemy, killing and injuring them whenever he can. 

 Height, 15 inches. Laos, Further India. (Plate 51, Cat. No. 217566, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



46. Buddha. — Wood, lacquered and gilt. Seated in the witness 

 attitude, with inscription on front of the base. Height, 7\ inches. 

 Laos, Further India. (Cat. No. 217570, U.S.N.M.) 



