A GREY SCHIST 'PARINIRVANA' RELIEF
Ancient region of Gandhara, 3rd-4th century



The rectangular relief framed at the top by an architrave decorated with small paired triangles and at the bottom by a stylobate supporting on the left side a column with a Corinthian capital, the scene showing the Buddha lying on his right side with his head resting on a pillow, all around and under the sarcophagus, some figures of disciples assisting him.

22,5 x 26,5 cm

Provenance: ambassador Gerardo Carante.
The scene depicted on this relief is described in many sacred Buddhist texts, and in particular in the Mahaparinirvana sutra. During his last journey, the Buddha decided to stop in Kushinagara to rest in a grove of shala trees, then in an explosion of flowers even though the season was not the right one. The Buddha then lay down and took his leave of himself with the multitude of divinities, disciples and faithful gathered in those places to give the last greeting before the Buddha left the world to enter Nirvana. Those who among the bystanders were not aware that the death of the Buddha was in reality a liberation towards a state of superior transcendence, writhed in desperation. Those who, on the other hand, between the already illuminated divinities present at that moment sensed the grandeur of that passage, enjoyed it in ecstasy.