Gandhāra
Naturalistic style
Schist
25.5 x 39 x 6 cm HWD

State of conservation: The bottom right corner of the relief is broken.

The relief, which continued on the right, is defined above by a moulding of overlapping lanceolate leaves, below by a plain fillet, and on the left side by a panel enclosing a Gandhāran-Corinthian column. One hole for attachment on the back and traces of chisel grooves and a square cramp mortise for insertion of a tenon on the top.
The central image of the relief is the standing Buddha with a small uṣṇīṣa, the overrobe covering both shoulders, touching a tall oblong or columnar stone[1] with his right hand while securing the robe in a loop with his left hand. On the Buddha’s left is a standing bearded Vajrapāṇi wearing a short garment, holding his vajra with both hands. On the other side of the stone, from right to left, there follow five youthful looking personages, four of which bear a second stone, here depicted obliquely. The first of them stands with head turned towards the Buddha, while the second, half kneeling, turns towards the pillar. Both wear a laṅghoṭī (loincloth), one of the garments typical of Gandhāran wrestlers and athletes.[2] Of the other three personages on the other side of the oblique pillar, the first two are shown bush-length while, of the third, above, to the left, we see only the head.
The legend depicted in the relief is of the first two attacks made on Siddhārtha by his evil cousin and rival Devadatta. Having joined the Buddhist order and attempted unsuccessfully to take over as head of the community, Devadatta tried to suppress the Buddha with a series of attacks, but to no avail. According to the Mūlasarvāstivādin Vinaya, Devadatta’s first attempt consisted in having a device built by an engineer and worked by five hundred men to kill the Buddha, while also ensuring that yet others would be ready to kill him if it did not work; however, the mechanics repented and, before setting the contrivance, descended to the Buddha by magic steps and were converted. Trying again – and this was the second attempt – Devadatta had a great stone hurled at him. Vajrapāṇi shattered it and a yakṣa (a male nature spirit, connected with vegetation and wealth, fem. yakṣī) lost his life trying to stop a fragment injuring Siddhārtha’s foot.[3]
There are a great many Gandhāran scenes of these episodes[4], for listing of which see Taddei (1963: 40, with references) and Zwalf.[5] Finally, it is worth noting the resemblance in the distorted posture of the body of the figure on the right of the vertical pillar to the figure on the far left – again in the scene of Devadatta’s attack – in a relief in the British Museum.[6]

Anna-Maria Quagliotti, 2009

[1] And not a wall, as originally believed. For the discussion on the subject, see Taddei 1963, 40–41.
[2] As well as of the Vajrapāṇi (see, e. g. relief no. G.50/A23274 in the Indian Museum, cf. Kurita 1988, fig. 317), or some young people carrying a palanquin (e. g. on the relief no. 1903/new no. 21 in the Peshawar Museum showing Māyā’s return to Kapilavastu, cf. ibid.: fig.: 62).
[3] The third attempt was to launch at him the fierce elephant Nālāgiri, which was halted by the compassion of the Buddha and paid him homage.
[4] On the complex question as to whether some of these represent the first, the second, or both attacks, see Taddei 1963, 40–41, with references; Zwalf 1996, 192–193, with references.
[5] Taddei 1963, 40, with references; Zwalf 1996, 192–193. Another example might be the relief in a private Japanese collection (Kurita 1988, fig. 357), although I have not been able to view it personally and cannot, therefore, judge its authenticity.
[6] 6 London, British Museum, no. OA 1913.11–8.22; see: Zwalf 1996, 192–193, no. 212.

Catalogue _ Museum DKM: Gandhāra, 40 – 43, cat. no.. 2.