Serpent king

Mythical serpents (naga) play a role in several Buddhist legends. For example, they join in the praise of the Buddha just before and after the Enlightenment. Often the serpents in legends are specified as serpent kings. They also have the power to change their form: one Buddhist text says that "if they want to transform themselves so that they become as beautiful as the celestial beings they can do so."
Here we see a royal figure whose identity as a serpent is indicated only by the serpent head at the top of his crown. The figure holds an as-yet-unidentified object, possibly a sort of lance with a pennant. To his side are two small figures, also unidentified, that appear to be an animal protecting or threatening a young child or animal. Below, a lively pair of page boys dance.

Such a sculpture would probably have been attached to the balustrade surrounding a monastery building.