CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Umbrella, detail. The decor of the umbrella is placed within concentric rings, the inner one and outermost ones resembling a full-blown lotus. The second band from the center carries winged lionlike figures, shardulas (often described as leogryphs), separated from one another by small full-blown lotuses. The next band carries auspicious symbols, many of them like those seen on the stone tablets known as ayagapatas of Kushana Mathura.

Subject: Umbrella, detail. The decor of the umbrella is placed within concentric rings, the inner one and outermost ones resembling a full-blown lotus. The second band from the center carries winged lionlike figures, shardulas (often described as leogryphs), separated from one another by small full-blown lotuses. The next band carries auspicious symbols, many of them like those seen on the stone tablets known as ayagapatas of Kushana Mathura.

Subject: Umbrella, detail. The pierced projecting portion in the center assumes the shape of a lotus flower.

Subject: Umbrella, detail. The decor of the umbrella is placed within concentric rings, the inner one and outermost ones resembling a full-blown lotus. The second band from the center carries winged lionlike figures, shardulas (often described as leogryphs), separated from one another by small full-blown lotuses. The next band carries auspicious symbols, many of them like those seen on the stone tablets known as ayagapatas of Kushana Mathura.

Subject: Umbrella. The umbrella originally was supported by a shaft bearing an inscription declaring the bodhisattva image (Museum No. 356) and umbrella to be the gift of the monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka’s reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. The image of bodhisattva was originally protected by this stone umbrella, which was found broken into ten pieces. Eight of these have been joined together with copper dowels while the other two are more damaged. The umbrella is adorned with concentric circular bands of decoration.

Subject: Umbrella. The umbrella originally was supported by a shaft bearing an inscription declaring the bodhisattva image (Museum No. 356) and umbrella to be the gift of the monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka’s reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. The image of bodhisattva was originally protected by this stone umbrella, which was found broken into ten pieces. Eight of these have been joined together with copper dowels while the other two are more damaged. The umbrella is adorned with concentric circular bands of decoration.

Subject: Museum visitors in front of the umbrella that originally protected the standing bodhisattva.

Subject: Bodhisattva, tenon, detail

Subject: Bodhisattva, profile, detail. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The right arm is broken off but was raised to the shoulder in the posture of imparting security, abhayamudra.

Subject: Bodhisattva, profile. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka's reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure's head. The figure's outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but was probably originally raised in the reassuring gesture, abhayamudra.

Subject: Bodhisattva, rear, detail. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka's reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure's head. The figure's outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but was probably originally raised in the reassuring gesture, abhayamudra. 

Subject: Bodhisattva, rear. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka's reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure's head. The figure's outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but was probably originally raised in the reassuring gesture, abhayamudra. 

Subject: Bodhisattva, rear. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka's reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure's head. The figure's outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but was probably originally raised in the reassuring gesture, abhayamudra. 

Subject: Bodhisattva, detail. There is a small figure of a lion sitting upright between the feet.

Subject: Bodhisattva, detail showing the girdle that is holding the lower garment in position. It is wound twice around the waist and then tied into a knot.

Subject: Bodhisattva, detail. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka’s reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure’s head. The figure’s outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but the right hand probably was raised in the reassuring gesture, abhaya mudra.

Subject: Bodhisattva. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka's reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure's head. The figure's outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but was probably originally raised in the reassuring gesture, abhayamudra. 

Subject: Relief probably depicting the Ramagrama Stupa. This is a portion of a door lintel and was found east of the Main Shrine. Generally, the stupa depicted on the left of the lintel is assumed to be the one at Ramagrama, in Nepal. Wild elephants provided flowers for the Ramagrama stupa, and when Ashoka sought to open this stupa — one of the eight original stupas containing the Buddha’s remains, which he intended to divide among 84,000 stupas — he was persuaded not to do so even though he opened the other seven original stupas. The stupa at Ramagrama was guarded by a naga, a serpent divinity, who assumed the form of a Brahmin and persuaded Ashoka not to open it. The elephant to the left of the stupa bearing flowers and the serpent encircling it are probably an allusion to the Ramagrama stupa.

Subject: Coping stone, detail

Subject: Coping stone, detail

Subject: Coping stone, detail

Subject: Coping stone, detail

Subject: Coping stone, detail

Subject: Coping Stone with Railing Pillars, detail. The pillars are adorned with a stupa at the top and a faceted pillar supporting a triratna (the tri-pronged motif symbolizing the Buddha, dharma, and the sangha) that in turn supports a wheel.