Mathura: Life of the Buddha

INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura

The carvings are from the round base of a small stupa discovered at Dhruv Tila, Mathura. Carved about the stupa are a series of reliefs depicting events from the Life of the Buddha. Each relief is separated from the next by a squared pillar with an acanthus capital, which is clearly influenced by Gandharan art. However, the events themselves and the way they are presented are more typical of Mathura. Usually, Gandharan works proceed chronologically while those from Mathura are more limited in subject matter and events are not in chronological order.
The story here begins on the far left with the Birth of Prince Siddhartha under the asoka tree and his subsequent bathing by the naga kings. This is followed, in an anti-clockwise direction, by the Defeat of Mara and the First Turning of the Dharma Wheel. The next photo shows the Buddha’s Parinirvana. Beyond that event is a stupa between twin trees with what may be a statue of the Buddha in a niche, although this has also been identified as the living Buddha residing in a vihara. The third photo in the series features the divine episodes of the Buddha’s Return from the Trayastrimsa Heaven, the Four Heavenly Kings Offering Bowls, and finally the teaching at Sakra’s Cave.