Eastern Indian School of Mediaeval Sculpture c5.44

c5.44

Some of the most important features of the Mathurā School of Sculpture are borrowed from the Gandhāra School as for example, the representation of the scenes of the life of the Buddha. As would be expected, the basreliefs of this class so far discovered at Mathurā are less numerous and less vigorous in execution than those from Gandhāra itself. The following events of the life of Buddha have so far been recognized at Mathurā:—(1) Birth, (2) Illumination, (3) First sermon, (4) Death, (5) Visit of Indra to Buddha, (6) Buddha thinking of leaving his home, (7) Buddha leaving his home, (8) The first bath, (9) Descent from the Heaven of the thirty-three gods, (10) The gift of the Jetavana, (11) the Taming of the mad elephant, (12) The presentation of alms bowls, and (13) the change of garments. The Mathurā sculptures also include representations of many of the Jātakas.