Last Existence: Offering of Dust

Panel with rebated back showing the Offering of Dust. Jaya and Vijaya, two boys of good family, see the Buddha while playing with dust or clay and put a handful in his begging bowl as offering. The Buddha predicts Jaya’s rebirth as the emperor Aśoka. The panel is square, its back is largely projected for fitting purposes. The base of the relief consists of a row of saw-teeth between plain fillets. The upper end of the panel is defined by the profile of the figures. The standing haloed Buddha in the centre turns to his left looking down, his right palm is turned inwards before him, while stretching his left arm toward Jaya holding his bowl. The Buddha wears an overrobe covering both shoulders and with a round neckline marked by parallel folds. The hair is parted in the middle with continuous, vertical waves from a peak over the forehead, the uṣṇīṣa is not separate. Jaya seems to wear a belt made of circular plaques around his waist. His hair is curly. Next to him is another child, Vijaya, who is sitting on the ground with the left knee raised up and the left leg folded. He is in añjalimudrā. The child appears to be wearing a belt akin to that of Jaya, and a wristlet. A figure, probably female, stands behind the children in the background. Between this figure and the Buddha is a tree. On the left, two monks are standing with the right hand on the chest. In the background, the remains of a third figure are visible.