Jamal Garhi: Life of the Buddha - Liberation of Sudha

PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Jamal Garhi

The King Candrapati Sutra recounts that a royal concubine became pregnant and was slandered before the king, who sentenced her to death. She gave birth to a boy in her grave and was miraculously able to suckle him for three years. When the boy left the grave, he lived among the birds and wild beasts. Taking pity on him, the Buddha instructs him and gives him the name Sudha. Sudha attained Arhathood after just seven days, returns to see his father, and uses supernatural powers to guide the king onto the right path.
On the left side of this relief, the Buddha is seen welcoming the naked child, who pays him reverence. Behind him is his mother’s grave, where her corpse still seems to be intact. Vajradhara stands behind the Buddha, while about them are numerous heavenly beings who praise this sight. There are three figures on the right of the composition. The intact one in the center is the bearded and mustached Buddha, attended on the right by a damaged Vajradhara. The faceless figure paying the Buddha reverence may be the king taking refuge in him. Sudha manifests his supernatural powers above the group, by flying through the air. The composition is bordered by leafy plants at the top.