Last Existence: Buddha's Birth

Fragment of a relief depicting 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. The scene was framed by an encased pilaster of the Gandharan-Corinthian type, of which only the right one is preserved. The relief has a plain base and a top frame consisting of a row of rosettes within filletted lozenges and half-rosettes in the resulting triangles, surmounted by a plain cornice. The figured field shows two female figures and the damaged lower body of a third one. A musical instrument, possibly a chordophone, is carved on the top right corner. The figure on the right stands in frontal position, the left leg slightly bent forward. She holds a palm branch in her left and a water pot in her right. She wears a paridhāna, an uttarīya, and a wreath. Her ornaments include earrings, a long necklace, and anklets. The second figure is an attendant who is depicted turning to her right, standing slightly inclined, the left leg crossing over the right. She supports Māyā giving birth to her right. The attendant wears an uttarīya, a twisted wreath, and ornaments including a long necklace, earrings, and anklets.