Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha

India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 237

This container likely served as a Buddhist reliquary. There are three scenes: the first shows the miraculous birth of Siddhartha, the historical Buddha. He emerges from the right side of his mother, Queen Maya, who is supported by her sister, Mahaprajapati. The second scene depicts the temptation of Siddhartha as he meditates at Bodhgaya immediately before attaining enlightenment. The third scene is a rare representation of the crowned and jeweled Buddha setting into motion the wheel of law, a reference to his first sermon at the Deer Park at Sarnath.

Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha, Bone with traces of color and gold paint, India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan

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Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha, Bone with traces of color and gold paint, India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan
Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha, Bone with traces of color and gold paint, India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan

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