Last Existence: The Buddha's Death

A rectangular panel representing the Buddha's Death. The next scene represents the Buddha’s death. Despite being ill after receiving food offerings, the Buddha continues to travel to Kapilavastu until he is forced to stop at Kuśīnagara in a śala forest. Here he announces to his retinue that he will soon pass away. He delivers his last prescriptions to Ānanda and ordains his last convert, Subhadra. He then enters his final meditation and dies, achieving his final nirvāṇa. Gods, princes and monks gather to mourn the deceased Buddha. Mahākāśyapa arrives seven days later to pay his last homage. The base consists of two superimposed pain fillets. The cornice – of which only a portion on the left remains – is decorated by a row of saw teeth, topped by a plain projecting fillet. On the back there are sparse vertical flat chisel marks. On the top face there are three Kharoshti mason marks, and on both ends there is a continuous socket running parallel to the shorter side. On the bottom of the relief there are two rectangular tenons. The figured field is framed by two corner pilasters of the Gandharan-Corinthian type. The one on the proper right is carved with a tree with three parted branches represented on both visible faces of the shaft. The one on the proper left shows a similar tree on the front face, while the other side face presents a double short flute. At the center of the scene, the Buddha lies in parinirvāṇa on a bed with turned legs and covered by a drape. His head is uncovered and the left arm rests over his body. In front of the bed stands a tripod for suspending leather containers for fluids/solids, and a small figure seen from the back seated in padmāsana, representing Subhadra, the Buddha’s last convert. On the right stands the wise Mahākaśyapa, recognizable by his traveler's staff. He is talking to an Ājīvika holding a flower and who came to inform him of the Buddha's death. Mahākaśyapa is probably depicted once again on the left, kneeling at the Buddha's feet. He has come to pay a final homage to the Buddha and caresses his master's feet. The Buddha’s body is surrounded by a group of attendants, probably monks and princes from the Malla confederation who have gathered in Kuśīnagara to bid a last farewell to the Buddha. To the left side of the bed, five figures stand holding flowers or joining their hands in a gesture indicating adoration. In the upper part of the relief, from the background, nine figures emerge in bust. After the third one from the left the sequence is interrupted by a tree crown, probably evoking the forest of śala trees.