Nagarjunakonda: Life of the Buddha

INDIA, Andhra Pradesh

This is one of the best preserved series of reliefs from Nagarjunakonda. A band of galloping horses crosses the top while the right hand border has a series of lotus roundels supported by stylized palm trees. The scenes are separated by organic patterns which differ from slab to slab.
Several scenes that followed the Buddha’s enlightenment are depicted, with the narrative sequence proceeding from left to right. The Buddha’s throne beneath the Bodhi tree is at the left in the bottom register, with the Buddha standing to one side manifesting his gratitude towards it. He is seated to the right on a coiled naga that spreads its hoods about the figure’s nimbus to shelter him during a storm. The people showing him respect are members of the naga clan.
The middle register also contains two scenes. The Four Heavenly Kings on the left, aware that the Buddha has no utensil, each bring an alms bowl to offer him. To the right, merchants are making food offerings to the Buddha, who accepts them in the bowl he has miraculously combined into one from the four that were given to him.
The upper register shows the Buddha delivering his first teaching. His five former companions in ascetic practice are listening respectfully on the right. Turbaned deities surround his lion throne, while a pair of deer at its foot identifies the scene taking place in Deer Park at Sarnath.