Women in music and dance

Naginis (cobra women) with musical instruments

Cobras in art--Nāginī

Cobras--Stone carving--Matale--Sri Lanka

This is an artist’s conception of how the Buddha was protected from the rains by a nagaraja (a cobra king) in the sixth week after his enlightenment. The naga women display their devotion by playing various musical instruments. A chance find of the late Mr. Osmond de Silva, the stone plaque is now with his wife, Mrs. Ena de Silva at Matale. The carving may be attributed to the Polonnaruva period.

Sirima Kiribamune

Matale, Sri Lanka

ca. 11th-12th 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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