Mamane Dheri: Sakra’s Cave

PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Charsadda

The sculpture was unearthed from the Mamane Dheri site in Charsadda. The Buddha had withdrawn at one time to meditate within a cave, which was located on a mountain in Rajagriha. Visited there by Sakra and his retinue, the Buddha expounded the Dharma to them.
Cross-legged within the niche, the Buddha wears a monastic robe that covers both shoulders. The exterior is carved with reliefs of heavenly beings, apes, birds, and scenery. Among the throng, Gandharva is recognized by the harp, while Vajradhara is unclothed. The relief is worn, rendering many figures indistinguishable. Opposite Vajradhara, a figure seems to be dressed in fish-scale armor similar to that worn by Iranian soldiers. Below the armor clad figure there is an elephant kneeling beneath a canopy, believed to be carrying Sakra.
There is an inscription in Kharosthi along the bottom of the relief carrying the prayer of a monk named Dharmapuriya for the good health of his master and his disciples. Though some date the piece to 216 CE, this estimate has not been verified.