Last Existence: Buddha's birth

Part of a relief showing the Buddha’s Birth. In the Lumbinī Park, Māyā gives birth to Siddhārtha holding the branches of a śāla tree. The infant Siddhārtha emerges from the right side. Gods and supernatural beings witness the event. To the right of the scene there is a short framed semi-column of Gandharan-Persepolitan type. The base is damaged but was arguably plain in origin. The upper framing consists of a plain fillet, topped by a bracketed cornice supporting an unidentifiable further moulded element. On the back and sides there are scattered toolmarks. Māyā is standing frontal with the head slightly turning towards her right. She is reaching up with her right arm, while wrapping the left arm around the back of the female attendant on the right. Māyā wears a long garment. Next to her, a female attendant is standing in left profile. Her left hand is resting on Māyā’s belly. To the opposite side a kneeling male figure welcomes the infant Bodhisattva emerging from Māyā’s right side in a swaddle cloth.