Mucalinda Protecting Buddha

West Gate of Stupa #1, Sanchi

From the east face of the north post of the west gate (think about it, and it will start to make sense), just below the Shyama Jataka (previous page). The scene depicts Mucalinda (center front) and his court. Mucalinda is a nagaraja, a serpent king who protects the Buddha. In later sculptures, the Buddha is usually pictured as sheltering beneath Mucalinda's cobra hoods. Here, Buddha is represented aniconically, as a parasoled tree above the king. At Mucalinda's side in the left foreground are two of his queens, backed by three attendants holding a dish, a jar, and a chauri (fly whisk). On the other side of Mucalinda are his dancers and musicians. Flying above the court are two kinnaras and two heavenly maidens, one riding a griffin and the other a winged lion.