Cat. no. 4
A grey schist panel depicting Buddha and attendants
Ancient region of Gandhara
2nd-3rd century
19.5 x 20.5 cm
A small narrative panel, probably once adorning a shrine or reliquary stupa, depicts an episode from the life of the historical Buddha (cat. no. 4). The Buddha appears before the corner of a walled rampart, with Vajrapani — a muscular, bearded man holding a vajra — a monk with shaved head, and other attendants. It may illustrate an episode in which Shakyamuni is invited to dinner by King Bimbasara of Rajagriha. Such panels, created to educate the faithful about the Buddha’s life (and indeed, his previous lives), appear throughout the Gandharan region and elsewhere in India at Buddhist sites at this time.
