Last Existence: Birth Cycle

Part of a frieze with separated scenes from the Last Existence. They are divided by an encased semi-column of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. Two more encased semi-columns of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. The base consists of a plain fillet and the cornice of two superimposed plain fillets. The back face shows irregular vertical tool marks. On the proper left of the bottom side there is a small rectangular socket. The first scene depicts Māyā’s dream. Māyā, the queen consort of Śuddhodana, dreams of a white elephant entering her womb through her right side. As soon as she wakes up, she finds out to be pregnant. Māyā is reclining on a bed on her left side, her head is looking back and is laying on a high pillow, the right hand resting on her raised knee. A drape hangs on the front of the bed, and a small footstool appears in front of it. Above the figure, a small elephant in a nimbus descends toward the sleeping queen. On both sides of the bed are two mirroring female guardians holding a spear in one hand, while the other is on the hip. In the background, behind Māyā’s head, there is a lamp. The next scene represents the Interpretation of Māyā’s dream. After dreaming of an elephant entering her side, Māyā and Śuddodhana ask the astrologer about the meaning of this dream. The wise man says that the queen has been chosen as the mother of a great being. In the centre of the scene, King Śuddhodana sits with crossed ankles on a two-seats backless throne covered with a drape. His feet are resting on a low footstool. The head and bust are tilted to his right, the left hand is lying on the knee, while the right hand is raised, probably in a gesture of conversation/question. He wears a paridhāna and an uttarīya, a long necklace, large earrings, and a turban with a front knot. On the left of the king, Māyā is sitting on the same large throne with her feet resting on a low footstool. She wears a long garment with an uttarīya hanging down to her right leg. She has a large wreath on the head with a loop of hair on the nape, large earrings, a necklace, and bangles. Her right hand is raised holding a large lotus flower, the left arm rests on the thigh. Next to the couple, on the left, the astrologer is sitting on a stool. The right hand is raised up, the left is holding an ovoid plain kamaṇḍalu. He wears a loincloth. His hair is tied with a coil and a vertical knot.