The preparations for the First Sermon of Buddha

Ancient region of Gandhara, 2nd-3rd century 
Schist
W60cmxH36cm
Provenance:
Private collection Japan 1970'ies
Private collection Michael Woerner Hong Kong
Published:
Dierking & Woerner, Ganesha and his Heavenly Friends
(Zurich, Bangkok 2022/2023), fig. II, p. 20-23

Scenes of the life of Buddha decorated the exterior of stupas, domed sacred buildings, which followers of Buddhist faith would circumambulate to pray and gain merit. This rather large relief depicts the preparations for the First Sermon of Buddha. Buddha is approached by his five closest disciples, who offer him a stool, a fly-whisk and a tea kettle. Behind the Buddha three Bodhisattvas can be seen. Most fascinating is the bearded figure next to Buddha's left side: he is the Bodhisattva Vajrapani, carrying the Vajra (thunderbolt). His image derives from Roman depictions of Heracles holding the mace – Gandhara indeed was a melting pot of Western and South Asian influences. In the tree on the right of the panel, a curious spectator is gazing at the unfolding scene. And at the bottom right, a number is carved to indicate the position in the entire sequence of reliefs.

A very similar relief from a Private collection Japan is published in: Isao Kurita, Gandharan Art I, The Buddha’s Life Story (Tokyo: Nigensha), 1990, p.145, fig.268.