Life of the Buddha - Four Heavenly Kings Offering Bowls

PAKISTAN

After the Buddha attained enlightenment, two merchants came with offerings of gruel and honey. Knowing that the Buddha had no utensils to accept these offerings, the Four Heavenly Kings each presented him with a stone alms bowl which the Buddha then combined into one.
The Buddha wears a robe that covers both shoulders as he sits cross-legged on a square throne. His right hand is raised in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra and he carries an alms bowl in his left hand. Vaisravana with his hands held in reverence and wearing a short-skirted garment is to the left. Surrounding them are the bowl-bearing deities wearing elaborate headdresses, necklaces and long robes. More badly damaged figures appear in the background.
The mixed styles apparent in the carving are a testament to the exchange of eastern and western cultures in the Gandhara region.