The Buddhist Art of Gandhara: The Story of the Early School, its Birth, Growth and Decline c15.27

c15.27

We may now turn to another group of contemporary sculptures in a markedly different style, several examples of which were found at the Dharmarājikā Stūpa at Taxila. A characteristic feature of this group is the tall athletic build of the male figures, with powerful sloping shoulders, strong hips and thighs, tapering legs and rather small ankles and feet. Another characteristic is the somewhat sketchy nature of the drapery, frequently distinguished by the shallow flattened edges of its folds. A third characteristic, but one which is not confined to these sculptures alone, is the highly elaborated canopy of leaves over the throne of the Buddha. The three examples of this group figured below are all of phyllite stone and all from the Dharmarājikā Stūpa. The scene depicted in the first of them (fig. 100) appears to be the miracle at the foot of the mango tree at Śrāvastī, also depicted in figs. 122-5. Under a canopy of mango leaves the Buddha is seated on a grass-strewn throne, his right hand turned outwards above his knee. On his left, King Prasenajit is sitting on a cushioned seat with his courtiers behind. On his right is the faithful Vajrapāṇi in monkish garb, and in front of the Vajrapāṇi two naked tīrthaṅkaras, one seated on a round stool, the other—a man of singularly ill-favoured looks—standing. For the earlier version of the miracle which seems to be followed here, see *Monuments of Sāñchī*, pl. xxxiv, A, 1.