Last Existence: Visit of the Ascetics

A relief with three scenes – the lateral ones are not preserved – separated by a pilaster of the Gandharan-Corinthian type with short flute. The base is moulded and plain. The cornice consists of a projecting plain fillet and a row of saw-teeth. Two rectangular sockets and a Kharoṣṭhī mark are carved on the top face. The back face shows tool marks. The three scenes probably depict the Visit of the Ascetics. The Brahman teacher Bāvari sends his sixteen brahmin students to the Buddha to answer questions about the goal of his teachings and how to attain the same. Each of the sixteen ascetics pays the Buddha a visit in Śrāvastī and astounded by his teachings, they eventually convert to Buddhism. The central scene shows six standing figures. The first three from the left are young ascetics turning towards the following scene on the left. The first and third figure have joined hands, the second is holding a kamaṇḍalu in his left hand, the right is raised. The other three figures, two young and one elder ascetics, are turning towards the right scene. The first young ascetic is joining his hands. The second one, seen back-turned, is raising his right hand while pulling the elder ascetic by his right arm. The left scene preserves only an ascetic sitting inside a hut. The right scene depicts the Buddha with the ascetics. The Buddha is sitting on a low plain seat in padmāsana and dhyānamudrā. He is wrapped in the overrobe covering hands and feet. The branches of an indistinct tree are emerging from the nimbus. On both his sides, are two standing ascetics, those on the left with joined hands, those on the right not fully preserved.