Naaga or serpents in the tradition of Buddhism are followers of the Buddha, who found refuge in the enlightened compassion of Tathagata. The residents of the underworld are included in the art and texts of Buddhism, as devotees and loyal servants of the Buddha, who accompany him in his life and become witnesses to many great acts of the Enlightened One. Due to their proximity to the Buddha, Naagas are auspicious and sacred beings, who are added to religious architecture and spaces of Buddhist followers as guardians and fortunate motifs.
This brass statue from Nepal represents a Naaga-kanya (a youthful female serpent) also known as Naagin in Indian tradition. In ancient texts, Naaga-kanyas are beautiful beings, who along with the male serpents guard the treasures of the underworld. The young Naaga-kanya in this brass statue has a zoo-anthropomorphic form (half human, half animal), adorned with an elaborate hairdo and crown with five snake hoods. She has luxurious tresses and a graceful form which is highlighted by intricate jewelry, followed by her serpent body where scales are meticulously designed with incised lines. The wings of the Naaga-kanya mark her mythical origin and her ability to travel long distances.
With a mystical calmness on her face, the young Naaga-kanya holds a conch in her hands, placed in the Anjali mudra, a gesture of offering. Connected to the aquatic realms, the conch simply symbolizes the wealth of the ocean, which the serpent offers to her Lord, Buddha. But on a deeper level, in Buddhist symbolism, the conch is the representation of the dedication of Dharma, the fearless acceptance of the pure wisdom, that the Naaga-kanya seems to be receiving from her Lord. Simultaneously placing the two symbolisms together, one can understand the true meaning of the artwork. It asks the devotee to surrender worldly wealth to the Buddha, and in return, attain the pearl of His wisdom, the greatest gift one can ever get.
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