The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c5.s5.36

c5.s5.36

A¹. The Conception (Garbha-avakrânti) : the Bodhisattva descends into the right side of his mother’s bosom in the form of a little elephant. The school of Amarâvatî always places at the four cardinal points of the room the four Lokapâlas, or Guardians of the World; but sometimes, as here, it forgets to represent the elephant, and, as little as at Barhut (CUNNINGHAM, pl. XXVIII, 2) and at Sânchî (see infra, pl. IX, 2, at the top), does it think of making Mâyâ lie in such a manner that she can properly present her right side to the Blessed One. The school of Gandhâra is never guilty of these negligences, which are contrary to the letter of the texts (Art g.-b. du Gandh., I, figg. 149 and 160 a; cf. however ibid., fig. 148, from Amarâvatî).