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Peshawar: Life of the Buddha - Miracle of Bright Light
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Peshawar: Life of the Buddha - Miracle of Bright Light
PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar; circa 3rd–5th century; Schist; H: 30 cm; Peshawar Museum, Pakistan
Portrayed here may be a miracle recounted in the Tathagatagarbha Sutra. When the Buddha was in deep meditation inside a sandalwood pavilion, he performed a miracle and emitted a bright light. Wherever the light shone, thousands of lotuses and Buddha images were manifested. An alternative interpretation is that this sculpture represents one of the miracles at Sravasti where Sakyamuni Buddha multiplied his body infinitely, filling all space with Buddhas expounding the Dharma.
The Buddha sits in meditation on a lotus throne beneath a canopy in the relief. Radiating aslant on either side are six individualized Buddha images standing on rudimentary lotus pedestals. Male and female kneeling figures on the lower right and left may be the donors of this work. |
