Life of the Buddha - Parinirvana

PAKISTAN

This relief once decorated the roof of a stupa and depicts an episode from the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. The Buddha lies upon a couch on his right side with his left arm extended along his body and one leg slightly bent. He is surrounded by his disciples as he peacefully passes into parinirvana. Behind him are members of the royal Malla clan who are displaying their grief. At the very top is the spirit of the sala tree under which the Buddha is lying. The monk paying reverence at the Buddha’s feet is Mahakasyapa, who had just returned from a journey. The monk seated in the center and turned toward the Buddha is Subhadra, the last person that the Buddha converted. A figure on the left is too overcome with grief to stand. Such display of strong emotion is usually found only in sculptures depicting this scene.