A GREY SCHIST RELIEF OF THE BUDDHA BEING ATTACKED BY MARA
PROPERTY FROM THE MOITA COLLECTION OF GANDHARA ART
Ancient region of Gandhara, 2nd - 3rd century

Of square shape, the deeply carved relief depicting Mara attempting to disrupt the Buddha's meditation, on one side Mara's daughters trying to seduce the meditating Buddha, on the other Mara's warriors trying to frighten and intimidate him, the unflappable historical Buddha Shakyamuni seated in meditation on a throne in the middle of the composition, his head characterised by the usnisa (cranial protuberance) and a rounded halo to the back, his mudras (hand gestures) now lost but most likley once in the bhumisparsa mudra form, calling for the Goddess Earth to testify his Enlightenment and triumph over Evil and Mara, mounted on a later metal base, 23.5cm x 19.5cm including the base.