Last Existence: Visit of Indra

Fragment of a false-niche (?). On the back and on the top there are several tool marks of various type. On the bottom there is a small rectangular socket. On the proper left side there is a small circular drill hole. The base consists of a straight festoon with a row of vertical zigzags between two plain fillet. The scene is depicted in different figured fields separated by a vertical row of opposite lanceolate leaves attached to a continuous stalk. The part of the scene on the left of the vertical separating element has an architrave composed of three plain fillets on top of which there are remnants of a decorative band of acanthus leaves within filletted opposite triangles. The part of the scene on the right occupies a semi-arch of the niche, whose frame was originally decorated probably with a row of disks. The relief depicts the Visit of Indra (Indraśailaguhā). The Buddha was 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 cave where the Buddha sits in meditation is preserved on the right semi-arch. Buddha emerges almost completely from the cave sitting on a low seat and wrapped in the saṃghāṭi with hands and feet covered. The left knee and shoulder are hidden by the cave wall. He has a large plain nimbus. The wilderness is represented by a tree depicted on the side of the cave, on top of a smaller cave on the bottom right corner with an animal – probably a lion – inside. The left part of the scene only preserves the figure of the gandharva Pañcasika, represented in frontal position, the left leg slightly flexed. He wears a long dhotī and a flat band necklace. Pañcasika plays a horizontal arched harp.