This bronze sculpture of Naga Muchalinda or King of the Nagas, the spirit of the waters with seven heads, is often found in Khmer art. Each of the naga bears a chakra (disc) or padma (lotus) symbolising the Buddhist dharma (teaching). Bronze finials such as this adorned the palanquins on which royalty were seated during ceremonial processions. Scenes of these are depicted on the carved stone wall reliefs at Angkor Wat. The 13th century Chinese emissary, Zhou Daguan, was sent by the Mongols to live in Angkor. He observed such processions of gold and silver palace utensils and chariots ornamented in gold, royal palanquins and hundreds of parasols.
