Muchalinda is known as the Serpent King. He is also called as Mucilinda or Mucalinda. Muchalinda is the name of a snake-like being or a naga. Nagas belong to the category of semi-divine mythical beings, half cobra and half human and are a handsome and strong species.
After Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment, it was Muchalinda who protected him from the elements. As per Hindu mythology, when Buddha began his meditation under the Bodhi Tree for 4 weeks, the heavens became dark for one whole week. Colossal rain fell, but it was Muchalinda, the Mighty King of Serpents who came to rescue from beneath the earth. He offered protection with his hood to Gautam Buddha, the source of all protection. After the rain and storm subsided, Muchalinda attained his human form, bowed down in front of Buddha and went back to his palace happily.
Lao Buddhist art commonly depicts Muchalinda protecting Buddha during his meditation. ‘Island’ a novel by Aldous Huxley prominently features, the traditional story of Lord Muchalinda thus functioning as a metaphor of communion between nature and humans opposing the antagonistic view of snakes in culture of Western countries.
Lord Muchalinda’s statue is seen protecting Gautam Buddha in Mucalinda Lake, which is located next to the main Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, in Bihar, India. It is said that Gautam Buddha was very engrossed in mediation. The storm in the lake would disturb his mediation so Muchalinda with his hood comforted Buddha and offered him shelter.
