Nagaraja Guardstone
Sculpture
9th century (made)
9th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Guardstones are traditionally placed at the base of stairs leading to the platform of a dagaba (stupa) in Sinhalese Buddhist architecture. They are usually in the form of nagarajas, subdued snake-deities who now serve the Buddha. The nagaraja is represented holding a flowering stem and a vase of plenty (purnaghata), symbols of fertility. This example lacks the elaborate decorative frame, with makaras (mythological water creatures) and flamboyant foliage, seen on the finest examples, and dates from the end of the Anuradhapura period. It would have been one of a pair, placed at the foot of the stairs leading up to a stupa to guard the reliquary mound and its sacred contents.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Nagaraja Guardstone (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Granite |
| Brief description | Nagaraja Guardstone, granite, Anuradhapura period, Sri Lanka, 9th century AD |
| Physical description | A male figure standing in the atibhanga pose ('exceeding bend', an emphatic version of the tribhanga or '3 bends' posture) with a naga (snake) hood, holding in his right hand the stalk of an elongated flower-bud and in his left a potted plant (purnaghata). |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | Nagaraja guardstone
800–900
Anuradhapura period
Sri Lanka
Granite
Nagas, or serpent spirits, are associated with the
protection of treasure, whether in the earth or at the
bottom of lakes or rivers. This figure is a nagaraja, or
‘serpent spirit king’. It would have been one of a pair,
placed at the foot of the stairs leading up to a stupa
to guard the reliquary mound and its sacred contents.
Museum no. IS.8-1966
800–900(1/4/2009) |
| Object history | Bought from Berkeley Galleries. |
| Historical context | Guardstones are traditionally placed at the base of stairs leading to the platform of a dagaba (stupa) in Sinhalese Buddhist architecture. They are usually in the form of nagarajas, subdued snake-deities who now serve the Buddha. The nagaraja is represented holding a flowering stem and a vase of plenty (purnaghata), symbols of fertility. This example lacks the elaborate decorative frame, with makaras (mythological water creatures) and flamboyant foliage, seen on the finest examples, and dates from the end of the Anuradhapura period. (One of pair with IS 9-1966) A male figure standing atibhanga pose with a naga hood, holding in his right hand the stalk of an elongated flower-bud and in his left a potted plant (purnaghata). |
| Production | Sri Lanka |
| Summary | Guardstones are traditionally placed at the base of stairs leading to the platform of a dagaba (stupa) in Sinhalese Buddhist architecture. They are usually in the form of nagarajas, subdued snake-deities who now serve the Buddha. The nagaraja is represented holding a flowering stem and a vase of plenty (purnaghata), symbols of fertility. This example lacks the elaborate decorative frame, with makaras (mythological water creatures) and flamboyant foliage, seen on the finest examples, and dates from the end of the Anuradhapura period. It would have been one of a pair, placed at the foot of the stairs leading up to a stupa to guard the reliquary mound and its sacred contents. |
| Bibliographic reference | C.E.Godakumbura, "Guardstones". Ceylon Archaelogical Dept. Colombo, 1964. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.8-1966 |
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| Record created | February 13, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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