Naga Prok attitude

File:วัดเศวตฉัตรวรวิหาร Wat Sawettachat Worawiharn (11).jpg of Wat Shvetachatra Woravihara, Bangkok]]

Naga Prok attitude ({{langx|th|ปางนาคปรก}}; {{RTGS|pang nak prok}}), translated as "sheltered-by-the-naga Buddha",{{cite web |url=http://www.finearts.go.th/mahavirawongmuseum/parameters/km/item/พระพุทธรูปนาคปรก-buddha-sheltered-by-naga-hood |title=Info |website=www.finearts.go.th |format=PDF}} is an attitude of Buddha in Burmese, Khmer, Lao and Thai art in which the Buddha, seated in either the meditation or maravijaya attitude, is sheltered by or covered with a multi-headed nāga. The nāga, whose name is Mucalinda, usually has seven or nine heads and appeared to coil the base of the Buddha statue.

The attitude references an episode in the Buddha's life after reaching the enlightenment. He travelled to various kingdoms to teach and spent the rest of his time meditating. One night, a heavy storm raged in the forest where he was meditating. A nāga by the name of Mucalinda ({{langx|th|มุจลินท์|translit=Mujalind|label=none}}) saw him meditating under harsh weather. Mucalinda decided to coil around his āsana (seat) and use himself as a shield to protect the Buddha from raindrops.{{cite web|last=Thanissaro|first=Bhikkhu|title=Muccalinda Sutta: About Muccalinda|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.2.01.than.html}}

The attitude was pioneered in early Khmer art.

Gallery

File:Chao Sam Phraya Museum - 2017-02-13 (053).jpg|11th century Khmer statue at Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, Ayutthaya province

File:Naga-enthroned Buddha - Beyond Angkor - Cleveland Museum of Art (40887945882).jpg|12th century Khmer bronze Naga-enthroned Buddha from Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia

File:Buddha sukhothainagbrok.jpg|At Sukhothai Historical Park, the statue emphasises the naga's coils.

File:Thailand Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple Buddha Statue.JPG|At Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai province

File:Wat Bang Riang Buddha.jpg|At Wat Bang Reang, Phang Nga province

File:SalaKeoKou 2.jpg|At Sala Keoku, Nong Khai province

File:BouddhaSimuong.jpg|At Wat Simuong, Vientiane

File:Nagayon Paya.jpg|The Nagayon Buddha in Monywa, Myanmar

References