Loriyan Tangai: Life of the Buddha - Parinirvana

PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar

The sculpture was unearthed from a temple site in Loriyan Tangai, Peshawar. The Buddha lies wrapped in his robe with his head supported on his hand and his nimbus clearly visible. His protector, Vajradhara, has collapsed at the foot of the bed while next to him is Subhadra, the last disciple accepted by the Buddha. Subhadra meditates facing the bed, the water bag hanging on a tripod next to him indicating his recent arrival. Another new arrival is Mahakasyapa, who stands at the end of the bed and has been informed by the unclothed figure accompanying him of the Buddha’s passing. The five figures behind the bed expressing their sorrow are from the Malla clan. The small figure in the branches on the upper right is the spirit of the sala tree under which the Buddha has passed into parinirvana.
The characteristics of the clothing and the realistic way the characters are portrayed in this Kushan relief show strong influence from the Hellenistic style.