Last Existence: Taming of the Elephant

A relief depicting the Taming of the Elephant. The story tells of one of the many attempts of the jealous Devadatta to kill his cousin the Buddha. One day, when the Buddha was in Rājagṛha, Devadatta released a mad elephant to harm the Blessed One. The animal rushes against the Buddha but its fury is contained by his loving-kindness. Caressing the forehead of the elephant with a calming hand, the Buddha pacifies the animal. The scene is enclosed between two framed half-columns of the Gandharan-Persepolitan type with modillion. The base is plain, the cornice consists of a plain fillet below and a row of tangential half double concentric disks with central small circle above. A rectangular tenon is carved on the top face. The bottom face preserves a rectangular socket in the proper right side. The back face shows vertical tool marks. In the center of the scene, the Buddha is standing in a three-quarter view towards the elephant on the left. His right hand is resting over the animal’s head, the left hand is holding an edge of the saṃghāti. His hair is parted in the middle with continuous, vertical waves from a peak over the forehead. The uṣṇīṣa is not separate. He has a plain nimbus. On the left, the elephant is shown walking from a city door of the Western type carved in a three-quarter view, with plain jambs and an architrave. A sword was probably carved between the Buddha’s feet and the elephant’s tusk. Above the door is a balcony-like structure with plain moulding. Three figures, probably female as suggested by the large wreath crowning their heads, are carved in bust inside it. The first two from the right are in a three-quarter view, the third one is frontal. The figures are separated by the upper part of a half-column. On the right of the scene are Vajrapāṇi and two monks, all turning towards the Buddha. Vajrapāṇi is holding a fly-whisk in his raised right hand and the vajra in his left hand. He has curly hair and wears a short tunic with exposed right shoulder and girdle. Both the monks have the right hand on the chest while the left holds an edge of the saṃghāti. Behind them is the crown of a tree with upwards branches and lanceolate leaves. In the background on the left is a male figure, possibly Devadatta, carved in bust and turning towards the Buddha. His left hand is close to the mouth while the right seems to be either on the waist or holding an undefined object.