Udayagiri: Vairocana Buddha

INDIA, Odisha, Udayagiri

This relief is located at Udayagiri and is one of four reliefs found on the side of a large stupa. The figure wears a high headdress, with ribbons and locks of hair falling to the shoulders. Faint lines at the neck, wrists and ankles indicate the Buddha wears a diaphanous monastic robe. The Buddha sits in meditation upon a lotus throne that is supported from below by a stem growing between two naga kings identified by their five-headed naga crowns. These naga kings sit in the royal ease posture, with the stems of two other blossoms creeping up behind them to form the pedestals for the Bodhisattvas standing on either side of the Buddha.
The figure standing to the right of Vairocana is Manjusri, who holds a whisk in the right hand and a lotus in the left hand that also supports a sutra. Standing on the left is Sarvanivarana Viskambhin with similar attributes, except the lotus supports a wish-fulfilling jewel. Vidyadharas flying above them carry garlands.