2-735-671 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Naga (Serpent Divinity), 300s. The coils of a serpent's body and the bottle of water in his hand confirm the identity of this figure as a water serpent divinity called a naga . Nagas continue to be important divinities in local piety, for they control the forces of water, essential for prosperity. Naga shrines were typically established by any body of water, and Buddhist monuments invariably included a naga shrine within the compound. The soft swelling of the fleshy body, the gentle curvature of the waist band, and the single elegant necklace are all features that mark the transition to the more naturalistic qualities of sculptures made during the fifth century in the Gupta period.