Maya's
Dream and Interpretation (Period III)
On the
left panel, Maya is shown reclining. Below the couch four women attendents are shown
half asleep. Four turbaned men of rank stand as guards at the four corners of the couch.
In the right panel Maya is seen seated on a small wicker seat in front of the King
while a Brahmana is seated to the left of the king. The Brahmana holds up
his two fingers suggesting two possibilities regarding the future of the child to be born. The
two possibilities are that either he would be a monarch, if he adopted the life of a
house-holder or he would become the Buddha, if he renounced the world. |
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Fragment
(Period II)
The sculpture
represents the story of the departure of Sidhartha from Kapilavastu (Mahabhinishkramana).
The arched gateway in the sculpture indicates Kapilavastu. The
horse, Kanthaka comes out of the gateway. An umbrella is held over it by a man,
suggesting the presence of the prince. Above them are the devas who opened the
gateway. There is a rail pattern below. |
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Casing Slab (Period IV)
It is fortunately very well
preserved and shows a typical stupa flanked by dharmacakra pillars and with
a frieze on top. The stupa is surrounded by a railing. Three of its gateways, are
shown. The plinth, pillars, cross-bars, coping-stones and guardian lions are shown clearly. A purnakalasa
is shown on either side of the gateway. The drum, ayaka pillars and the casing slabs
with sculptures are shown behind the rail. A harmika
surmounts the dome with umbrellas at its two corners. Devas and dwarfish yakshas adore
the stupa with offerings in trays.
The dharmachakra pillars on either side stand behind empty
thrones suggestive of the Buddha. Above the wheels, dwarf and devas play on musical
instruements.
The frieze at the top shows three scenes from the life of the
Buddha. The scene on the right shows an empty throne surrounded by sleeping damsels, some
leaning, against the musical instruments they play upon, which suggests the departure of Siddhartha
from his home at the dead of night. The central scene shows the Bodhisattva seated on
a throne and surrounded by Mara's daugthers and hosts, one of whom on the left raises
his hand to strike the Bodhisattva. Mara stands with a club in his hand. The scene on
the left shows the Buddha suggested by the empty throne below the Bodhi tree, being
adored by monks, laymen and women. Between the two middle pairs of knobs are naga
couples.
The inscriptions
Means, "(Adoration) to Siddhartha! Gift of coping stone to the great stupa of
the Lord by the wife of the merchant Samudra, the son of the householder Samgha,
living in the chief city of Puki district and by the ... householder Kotachandi
for welfare and happiness of the world."
The musical instruments such as the harp and drum, the various
attitudes of the sleeping women and the playful dwarfs below the seat of the Bodhisattva
in the centre are interesting. |
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