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Taiyo Ltd.
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Lotus Throne
Gandhara, A.D. 3rd century, Schist
W: 56 cm
In Buddhism a beautiful lotus flower growing from a dirty muddy water is a symbol of purity against desire for worldly things. In the early Buddhist art the lotus as the Buddha's throne is depicted in the scene of the divine transformation, the Miracle of Sravasti, when flames were released from the shoulders and water from the feet of the Buddha who then sit on the lotus flower prepared for him in a pond by the Snake King, Naga, and revealed his image to countless times.
A stalk of this lotus is thick and firm. Buds are visible under the open flower. Lines indicating water are incised below the flower. There are two female worshippers standing on small lotus flowers on both sides of the lotus. |
The holes for assembling in the upper part of this relief may suggest that the throne used to support a figure of the sitting Buddha sculpted separately and mounted on top. |
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