The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c5.s5.50

c5.s5.50

D. Parinirvāṇa. — 1. The episode of the Death of the Master is treated in accordance with the usual formula, including the despair of Vajrapāṇi, the grief of the Mallas and the Gods, and the ultimate conversion of Subhadra. 2. The curious circumstance is that on this point the school of Amarāvatī has remained obstinately faithful to the ancient device of the Stūpa (cf. pl. II, D) ; nevertheless, the entrance through the railing is now adorned with a standing figure of Buddha. — 3. Finally, we shall notice, even more clearly than in the other compartments, that on the stelæ of Benares the image of the Blessed One tends to invade the whole disposable space to the detriment of the attendants : instead of legendary the scene becomes iconographic.