Sanchi Stupa 1: Life of the Buddha - Defeat of Mara and Enlightenment

INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi

The episode takes place across the middle crossbar of the stupa’s northern gateway.
Prince Siddhartha, represented by a Bodhi tree with a throne underneath it, is located on the far right of the lower crossbar. Surrounding this representation are various deities, while two heavenly beings shade the branches with a canopy above. Mara is sitting in the posture of ease on his own throne towards the center of the crossbar attended by minions young and old. The entire left hand side of the crossbar is occupied by grotesque demons whose overwhelming size contrasts with the elegant heavenly beings on the right. They sit and squat, manifesting a variety of diabolic emotions.