Bharhut: Paying Respect to a Stupa

INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Bharhut

Since the stupa is a receptacle for the Buddha’s ashes, it was often worshipped. This carving depicts devotees kneeling at the bottom beneath twin banners on the sides, and is ornamented with garlands, all of which suggests the stupa represents the Buddha. The inverted bowl is surmounted by a harmika, on which are mounted a top-heavy assortment of slabs topped by two flower-decorated parasols placed one above the other. An apsara is scattering flowers from the air, while a kalavinka approaches from the other side with a garland. An Asoka pillar with triple lions on its capital extends from behind the stupa. Aristocratic devotees stand beneath trees in the background.