Jamrud: Life of the Buddha

PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Jamrud

This relief was unearthed from Jamrud. The damaged top register of the relief illustrates Prince Siddhartha’s palace life before his renunciation. The turbaned prince, who is distinguished by the nimbus surrounding his head, reclines on a bed inside an arched building. He is surrounded by female musicians playing percussive instruments, while others perform beyond the pillar to the right.
The lower register shows the sequel. The musicians are sprawled exhausted on the floor in ungainly postures after a night of festivities and the prince has realized that youth and beauty are impermanent. The prince no longer wears a turban, which has been replaced with a usnisa as he rises from the bed and leaves the sleeping Princess Yasodhara. The prince is seen talking to his charioteer, Chandaka, who stands at the foot of the bed, most likely ordering him to prepare the horse. There are armed female guards beneath alcoves on either side. Birds perch on either side of the arches above, while the balcony between is occupied by various figures and a beast.