Life of the Buddha - Defeat of Mara and Enlightenment

NEPAL

The carving mainly depicts Prince Siddhartha’s defeat of Mara and overcoming other obstacles prior to attaining enlightenment. The top section of the relief is sectioned off and illustrates a procession.
The story progresses upwards, illustrating the different stages toward Buddhahood. In the lower section, Siddhartha, wearing a monastic robe that leaves the right shoulder bare, is seated in meditation on a double lotus throne. In the middle section, Mara’s soldiers are assaulting him while heavenly beings above rush in to protect him. Mara’s sensuous daughters dance alluringly to seduce the prince. Unmoved, the prince makes the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra, calling upon Prthivi, the Earth Goddess, to witness his enlightenment.