Naga Kanya is the daughter of the nagas, revered in Buddhist and Hindu traditions as guardians of water and subterranean realms. In her hybrid form, she unites a human upper body with a serpent body. The present sculpture shows an uncommon iconographic interpretation, characterized by an asymmetric composition and a pronounced sculptural presence.
She is seated on the right half of a rectangular pedestal. Behind her head rises a circular aureole. With both hands, she holds a conch. Her serpent tail follows a flowing curve around her body and extends across the pedestal toward the left, creating a dynamic counterbalance to the vertical axis of the figure. Naga Kanya wears the crown and full ornaments of a bodhisattva, emphasizing her elevated and protective character.
Face, upper body, and serpent tail are carved from green stone and terminate in a broadened element executed in red stone, introducing a deliberate chromatic contrast. The pedestal is decorated with filigree. Fine metal wires are shaped into spirals, filled with small arched elements, and assembled into a harmonious pattern. Colored stones add floral accents and structure the surface. The decoration is executed on all sides, allowing for freestanding presentation.
Posture, movement, and ornament are brought together into a carefully balanced unity.
Yala Craft by Shanta is an Asian company based in Germany. I sell my traditional Buddhist sculpture art, created in my own workshop in Nepal.