Sarnath: Life of the Buddha

INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi

Four principal events from the Life of the Buddha are portrayed in an upward order on this stele. The scenes take place along the central section, while a lotus plant climbs up either side with Buddha figures standing or sitting on separate blooms.
The bottom register depicts the birth of Prince Siddhartha in Lumbini Garden. Queen Maya adopts the tribhanga position as she grasps the branch of an asoka tree for support and the prince emerges from her right side. The prince appears again on the left, where the Naga Kings, Nanda and Upananda, pour water to cleanse him. The Buddha is seated under the Bodhi tree in the next register with the right hand in bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra, while Mara orders his daughters and two grotesque demons from his army to distract him.
The enlightened Buddha, located in the top register, has hands in what looks like the Dharmacakra (Dharma wheel) mudra as he delivers his first teaching. The former ascetics who are his audience are inset into the throne on which the Buddha sits. Brahma and Sakra stand on either side.
The Buddha lies prone at the top as he passes into parinirvana with disciples standing at either end of the bed. Twin sala trees curve to either side, framing the scene.