Last Existence: Visit of Indra; First Sermon

A frieze with two separate scenes from the Last Existence. The base consists of a plain fillet, the cornice consists of a row of saw-teeth and two more superimposed plain fillets. Both the base and the cornice run on the sides of the frieze. Large sparse rectangular chisel marks are visible on the back face, two sockets for cramps are visible at both ends of the bottom face running parallel to the shorter side. The scene on the right depicts the Visit of Indra. The Buddha is meditating in a cave when the god Indra approaches him with the gandharva Pañcasika. The gandharva plays the harp to draw the Buddha’s attention. The latter eventually answers Indra’s questions on the causes of suffering in living beings. The Buddha sits in a cave in dhyānamudrā and padmāsana, wrapped in the saṃghāti with covered hands and feet. Outside the cave three figures walk toward the Buddha. The first one is the gandharva Pañcasika playing the harp. He wears a dhotī with uttarīya wrapped around the waist, a short flat band necklace and globular earrings. His hair is pulled up in a knot. Following him appears Indra with hands joined in adoration. He wears an uttarīya and paridhāna, a short flat band necklace, bracelets, globular earrings and his hair is pulled up in a large fan shaped chignon held by a string with flowing ribbon on the back (?). A third figure emerges from the background in the space between Pañcasika and Indra. The next scene represents the First sermon. After attaining Enlightenment in Bodh Gayā, the Buddha travels to Sarnath. In the Deer Park, he teaches the dharma to the five ascetics with whom he had shared years of practice. The Buddha sits in the centre in padmāsana, the right hand raised in abhayamudrā, and holding a hem of the samghāti with his left hand. The hair is pulled back in locks with separated uṣṇīṣa. The wheel of dharma emerges from the proper right side of the Buddha's seat. Five monks – three on the right and two on the left – surround the Buddha and are turned toward him. On each side of the Buddha’s head there is a branch with leaves.