Studies in Indian Art c12.s13.64

c12.s13.64

INDRA. In Buddhist iconography Indra and Brahmā occur as attendants of the Buddha. Some times Indra alone is shown paying homage to the Buddha in the Indraśaila Guhā at Rājagṛiha but in the Kushāṇa art of Mathura the iconography of Indra had a much greater significance. There is a unique image in which Indra is shown as polycephalic (having many heads) figure, i.e. with one figure in the centre and five others emerging out of his shoulders and head. This should be identified as the representation of the Pañchendra form or this deity to whom detailed reference is found in the Pañchendropākhyāna of the Mahābhārata and the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa. Indra is also depicted as Yaksha Vajrapāṇi, i.e. holding a thunderbolt in his hand. The one distinguished feature of Indra images is a high cap, rather a projecting crown, on his head. Some times a third eye is also shown over his forehead.