Browse Archive Items (13 total)

Pairs of Cobra-guardians.

Description: Two pairs of naga-nagini couples (male and female cobras in human form) are the joint guardians at the bottom of the door jambs at the entrance to a ruined building in the premises of the Government Agent’s Residency at Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. The naga and nagini are of almost equal height indicating an improved status for the female in this stone sculpture, probably dating from the 14th century.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Cobra-guardians

Description: Carved on the balustrades on either side of the Lankatilaka Vihare at Polonnaruva, Sri Lanka, are two naga and nagini (male and female cobras in human form) guardians from the 12th century A.D. The nagini is on the inner side of the left balustrade as you enter. Her head is framed by the same number of hoods as the naga on the opposite side indicating the naga and nagini were both considered equally important functionally in their role as guardian. With the nagini are attendant female dwarfs,…
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Cobra couple on a guardstone.

Description: This guardstone at the Dematamal Vihare in Okkampitiya in the Moneragala district, Sri Lanka, shows a cobra couple with arms round each other. It reflects the growing importance of the female in naga-nagini guardstones in the middle Anuradhapura period (ca. 5th-7th century A.D.).
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Nagini guardstone

Description: This stone relief sculpture of a woman carrying a pot and what looks like a bell is kept at the Colombo National Museum. A faint indication of a cobra hood over her head possibly represents a nagini (female cobra) guardian of the middle Anuradhapura period (ca. 5th-7th century A.D.). The original find spot of this sculpture is said to be Pidurangala, close to Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. A replica can be seen at the Archaeological Museum in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Nagini guardstone

Description: A guardstone with only the nagini (female cobra) is among the exhibits of the Archaeological Museum at Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. It was discovered in the Sigiriya gardens, with a companion nagini guardstone which has since disappeared. This 5th century A.D. limestone sculpture is in a deteriorated state but eye witnesses who have seen the cobra hood contributed to this identification.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Female cobra-guardian with three hoods.

Description: In Sri Lanka, sculptured figures on guardstones are largely male. In this cobra guardstone, the limestone relief shows a nagini (a female cobra) characteristically diminutive in size but with three cobra hoods instead of the usual single hood. This suggests an improved status relative to other female cobras. The image is in the Abhayagiri Vihara Cultural Triangle Project office at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Scholars associated with the project attribute the relief to the middle Anuradhapura…
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Naga couples

Description: The nagas (cobras in human form) as guardians of Buddhist temples is a widespread phenomenon. The number of hoods demonstrates the relative status of males and females. This limestone relief sculpture on a stele from a vahalkada of the Abhayagiri stupa at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, shows a many-hooded naga (cobra) with his female companion. Sporting a single hood, the nagini (female cobra) is relegated to a lower niche. The stone slab, carved around the 2nd century A.D., is found behind the main…
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Male and female cobras guarding a pond

Description: Flanking the steps on two opposites sides of a pond at Galabadda in the Monaragala district, Sri Lanka, are two male and two female relief figures in stone, facing each other. Each of them carries a flowering pot and what appears to be a water vessel. Associated with a water resource, this may be an instance of a nagini (female cobra) guardian, although there are no cobra hoods on any of the images. A date in the 12th century A.D. has been suggested by scholars, for the ruins at Galabadda, Sri…
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Two cobra-guardians carrying pots of plenty.

Description: This well preserved example of female companions or naginis (female cobras) in tank sculpture can be seen at a sluice on the Manankattiya tank, east of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The details of dress and ornament can be clearly seen in this carving on hard stone. A date in the middle Anuradhapura period (ca. 6th-7th century A.D.) has been suggested by scholars.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

A single hooded cobra-guardian

Description: A nagini (female cobra) sculpture carved on a rock surface is found at an abandoned sluice near the Vannammaduva tank, in the Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka. The stone on the cobra’s left is damaged. It is possible that there was a second female companion on this side. A date in the Anuradhapura period (4th century A.D. to 10th century A.D.) has been conjectured by scholars.
Contributor: Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha