The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c9.218

c9.218

Only the middle part of the stele is devoted to the *Mahâ-prâtihârya*. Under the large lotus two persons, whose bodies are only half seen, but who are not otherwise characterized, and who are leaning back to look at the Master, must be the two traditional *Nâga-râjas*. Above the head of the great central Buddha, which is of disproportionate size, two little genii, flying without wings, hold up a crown of jewellery under ornamental foliage. On each side appear two other small figures of Buddha, analogous to those on plate XXV, 1, and placed respectively beneath a Bodhisattva in the costume of a Buddha (cf. pl. XXVI, 2) surrounded by a radiating halo, and beneath a group consisting of Buddha in conversation with a monk. The two usual attendants, standing on lotuses with bent stems, hold up their garlands (cf. pll. XXVI and XXVIII, 1). Above them, on the right of Buddha, is Vajrapâni, bearing his thunderbolt, and having on his head a tiara often worn by Indra (cf. *Art g.-b. du Gandh.*, fig. 246); and opposite to him, wearing a turreted crown, the *nagara-devatâ* of Çrâvastî (cf. above, pp. 174-5). About ten other gods are seated in various attitudes, all resting on lotuses, except those (who also have haloes) on the first row at the bottom (the four Lokapâlas, two of which on the right are damaged; cf. pl. XXVI, 2).