Nagas (cobras) and naginis (female cobras) as guardians

Cobra-guardians

Cobras in art

Stone carving--bas-reliefs--National Museum (Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Nagas (cobras) and naginis (female cobras) as guardians: Nagas (cobras) are a clearly identifiable set of guardians of mostly Buddhist establishments and sometimes of secular structures such as tanks. This stone relief of a naga (cobra) with his two female companions on either side is said to be from Polonnaruva, Sri Lanka. It is now at the Colombo National Museum. Scholars have suggested a date in the early Polonnaruva period (ca. 10th-11th century A.D.).

Sirima Kiribamune

Colombo National Museum, Sri Lanka

ca. 10th-11th century A.D.

Period of study: 1986-1987

Version: 01/12/2012

Co-Author: Seneviratna, Harsha

Technical Officer: Wijesinghe, Lalith

Technical Assistant: Jayasundare, Subhashini

Photographer: Madanayake, I.S.

International Center for Ethnic Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies, Colombo

All rights reserved by International Center for Ethnic Studies, Sri Lanka.

Forms part of Photographic documentation of Women as depicted in early Sri Lankan sculpture and painting / Slide in present collection

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