Naga Prok attitude

Naga Prok attitude (Khmer: ព្រះពុទ្ធប្រក់នាគ, preah pud (buddha) prok neak, Thai: ปางนาคปรก; RTGS: pang nak prok), translated as Sheltered-by-the-Naga Buddha[1], is an attitude of Buddha in Khmer, Lao and Thai art of which the seated Buddha in either the meditation attitude, or Maravijaya attitude, is sheltered by or covered with a multi-headed Nāga. The Naga, whose name is Mucalinda, usually has seven or nine heads and appeared to coil the base of the Buddha statue. In Khmer art, this type of Buddha attitude is called preah pud prok neak which means The Sacred Buddha shielded or sheltered by the Naga which prok is a Khmer word means to roof, or shelter.

Naga Prok attitude Buddha statue in the ubosot of Wat Shvetachatra Woravihara, Bangkok

The attitude refers to the episode after reaching the enlightenment. He travelled to various kingdoms to teach and spend the rest of his time meditating. One night, a heavy storm raged on the forest where he was meditating. A Nāga by the name of Mucalinda (มุจลินท์; Mujalind) saw him meditating under such harsh weather. The Mucalinda decided to coil around his āsana (seat) and use himself as the shield to protect the Guatama from raindrops.[2]

The attitude is assumed to be pioneering since the early Khmer art.