OBJECTS OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL 133 



gilt. Height, 9 inches. Laos, Further India. (Plate 36 (left), 

 Cat. No. 217559, U.S.N. M.) 



50. Buddha and the nagas. — Bronze relief, representing Buddha 

 seated in a shrine in the witness attitude. This is set in a lacquered 

 and gilt wooden plaque which is framed by eight intertwined nagas. 

 The nagas belong to the category of demigods in the syncretistic 

 system of later Buddhism. They are serpents having the power to 

 assume human form, fabled to reside under the Trikuta rocks sup- 

 porting Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Buddhist cos- 

 mology, and also in rivers, lakes, etc., watching over treasures, 

 causing rain and certain maladies, and becoming dangerous when in 

 anger. They have been converted by Buddha and showed great 

 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 Bud- 

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

 shrine, or, more usual, 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 bemg 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, 6% inches. Laos, Further India. (Plate 36 (center). 

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



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

 seated in meditation, as in No. 49. Around the base are, in high 

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

 adoration. Height, 6K inches. Laos, Further India. (Plate 36 

 (right), Cat. No. 217594, U.S.N.M.) 



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

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

 above, under No. 49. Height, 10^ inches; width, 8K inches. Laos, 

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



53. 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. 50. Height, 5% inches. Laos, Further India. 

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



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

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

 base. LTpon the base are crudely carved in the round eight dis- 

 ciples kneeling with uplifted hands in adoration, surrounding the 

 throne. Compare No. 51. Height, 8% inches. Laos, Further 

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



