In the bas-relief, in a continuous narration, Sumati and Gopā standing in front of the city gate; Sumati scattered the flowers towards Dīpaṃkara, and the flowers is seen in Dīpaṃkara’s halo. Then, Sumati kneeling with hair scattered on the feet of the Dīpaṃkara.
Panel showing the haloed Bodhisattva seating on the lotus throne in dhyāna mudra, revered and flanked by deities in the Tuṣita heaven.
In this relief, Siddhartha, in meditation posture on the throne, a peasant restraining two cows; on the right, Suddhodana king waywardly kneeling to Siddhartha.
After six years of practicing asceticism, Siddhartha gave up the practice and started realizing the middle path. En route to the bodhi tree to attain enlightenment, the Bodhisattva receives homage from the Nāga Kālika and his wife. Nāga Kālika sings verses of praise for the commendation of his attainment. In this relief, on the right, Kālika and his consort emerged from an enclosed railing, while Vajrapani on the right follows the Bodhisattva.
A grass-cutter named Svastika offers the Bodhisattva a bundle of grass to lay on the seat of enlightenment. In this relief, the Bodhisattva receive the offering from Svastika. The person behind Svastika and the three persons above are goddesses that witness and honor the moment. The Vajrapani holding thunderbolt follows the Bodhisattva on the right.
After enlightenment, the Buddha received food alms from two merchants, Trapuṣa and Bhallika. The four kings of gods (lokapālas) intended to present Buddha with a bowl to receive the food. The four lokapālas presented the Buddha golden bowls, silver bowls, lapis lazuli bowls, crystal bowls, emerald bowls, respectively, but were refused by the Buddha. Lastly, the Buddha accepted stone bowls by the four lokapalas.
[SOJOURN AND DESCEND FROM TUSITA HEAVEN]
[THE FIRST MEDITATION]
[THE HYMNS OF NAGA KALIKA AND WIFE]
[OFFERING OF GRASS FOR THE SEAT OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT]
[PRESENTATION OF THE FOUR BOWLS]
On seeing the hesitation of the Buddha to deliver a sermon, Indra and Brahmā approach the Buddha to entreat. The Buddha has finally consented to preach dharma.
In the relief, the Indra is standing on the Buddha’s right, Brahmā on his left. They are seen worshipping the Buddha. The other deities above also joining the scene.
[SOLICITATION TO PREACH THE DOCTRINE BY INDRA AND BRAHMA]
The Buddha was invited to Trāyastriṃśa Realm to preach for his mother and deities. This scene may be considered as a filial piety act of the Buddha. In this relief, the Buddha is seated with abhaya mudra. The Brahmā is in Buddha’s right, Indra on his right. The flanking figure on Buddha’s right is Vajrapāṇi, while the others are deities.
[PREACHING IN TRAYASTRIṂŚA HEAVEN]
At one time, the Buddha resided in the Indrasāla cave, the Sakra goddess intended to visit the Buddha and made inquires. The Sakra asks the Gandharva Panchasikha for assistant. Then Panchasikha slowly wakes the Buddha from the meditation trance by playing harp and singing. In this relief, Buddha sits in a cave, with flaming patterns and animals around the cave; the Panchasikha is playing the harp in front of the cave while Sakra stands behind Panchasikha with venerated gesture.
[INDRA’S VISIT IN INDRASĀLA CAVE]
In the relief, the Buddha and monks are in meditation state. The Buddha is seated in the middle, while six other monks are seated beside him, except one monk figure is seen half appear in the air. It might depicting the scene where the Buddha and monks are invited to a summer meditation retreat in Verañjā which is recorded in the Life of the Buddha translated from the Earliest Chinese Tradition and vinaya texts.
[BUDDHA AMONG THE MONKS]
An exquisite lady called Amrapālī refused to trade her chance of making donation to the Buddha and monastic members to the wealthy Licchavis. She then presented the monastic community the Mango Grove as a vihāra. It has become one of the five main monasteries where the Buddha dwells. In this relief, on the left, Amrapālī is holding a water flask as a symbolic donation presentation.
[DONATION OF MANGO GROVE OF LADY AMRAPĀLĪ]
Yakṣa Āṭavika is a demon that devours people daily. A child from the elder being kidnapped to Āṭavika. The elder prays to the Buddha for help. The Buddha then arrived in the palace of the Āṭavika. Āṭavika gets frustrated with the Buddha and attempts to fight with the Buddha. Lastly, the Buddha converted Āṭavika, and he agreed to release the child.
In this relief, the Buddha is seated in the pedestal with abhaya mudra, the yakṣa Āṭavika holding a child to return to the Buddha.
A monkey had taken the Buddha’s bowl to collect honey then makes an offering to the Buddha. The Buddha eluded him to remove the impurities inside before represented to the Buddha. After the Buddha accepted the honey, the monkey was thrilled with joy, then accidentally fell into a well and died. The monkey subsequently reincarnates as a human.In this relief, which shows a monkey walking from left to the right, carrying a bowl, then left at the right. Behind the scene, there are two seated monks in meditation on each side of the Buddha.
[OFFERING OF THE MONKEY]
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