Mahaparinirvana

This relief panel depicts the Buddha's death (mahaparinirvana). It probably formed part of a series of narrative reliefs depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha. These would have decorated the basement platform of a structure within a monastic complex.

The Buddha is reclining on a bed with legs shaped like lion and elephants. The haloed figure is surrounded by grieving mourners. Vajrapani has collapsed in distress,while the senior disciple Mahakasyapa stands with a staff at the Buddha’s feet. The new disciple Subhadra sits serenely meditating with his robe drawn over his head.

Behind the death-bed are the five Malla princes expressing great emotion. A tree-spirit (‘yakshi'’), seen in the foliage of a sala tree, shares in the lamentation. The tree alludes to the Upavartana grove of the Malla nobles at Kusinagara (near Gorakhpur). This is where the Buddha died, possibly in 477 BCE.