Bharhut: Sakra’s Cave

INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Bharhut

This broken post once belonged to the railing that surrounded the Bharhut Stupa. The inscription at the top identifies this as a carved illustration as taking place in “Sakra’s Cave.” There is a garlanded throne inside the curved space of the cave and a parasol that represents the Buddha. Sakra sits before the parasol with his back to the viewer. The other heavenly beings who accompany Sakra on this visit line the sides of the cave with hands in reverence as they listen to an exposition of the Dharma. A section of a harp is visible on the left and most likely belongs to a gandharva who plays music as an offering. At the top, monkeys going about their daily affairs sit on rocks beneath a tree.