Kanthaka, the horse kissing the feet of his master Prince Siddhartha while departing from him as
it was given in charity during exile by Sddhartha. This panel found from Sikri, now preserved in
Lahore Museum, Lahore.
The return of Kanthaka, the horse of Prince Siddartha to the palace alongwith princely
belonging being handed over the princess. The princess is visibly upset and turns her face to
show her anger and grief on departure of the Prince. Swat Museum.
The Brahman is sitting in his straw hut and the Buddha alongwith Vajrapani- “Bearer of
thunderbolt”, and attendant of the Buddha, who has the status of a Bodhisattva – standing
outside while Buddha is consulting him on ways and means to reach the ultimate truth.
Peshawar Museum, Peshawar.
The Buddha had a meeting with the Brahmans to solve his personal problems. But they could not
satisfy him so he decided to solve the matter by himself. The five Brahmans that the Buddha has
consulted are seen in this panel. Lahore Museum, Lahore.
This masterfully carved panel depicts a very important scene in the life of the Buddha. Here
Svastika, the grass-cutter standing under the Bodhi tree is presenting a bundle of grass to Prince
Siddhartha to spread under the trunk of the tree. Vajirapani is also seen in the picture. The
Prince has decided to meditate under this Bodhi tree till finding the truth. Peshawar Museum,
Peshawar.
Fasting Exercises
Prince Siddhartha undertook extraordinary austerities by starvation and many other kinds of
fasting which are very difficult for an ordinary man to perform. For full six years he carried on
the exercise and made his body emaciated so that only skin and bone remained. Yet these
lengthy and difficult exercises nothing substantial to him for enlightenment he wished to acquire.
Therefore, he gave it up and accepted the food from a maiden named Sujata who had gone there
to worship a tree deity. After taking a bath in Narinjana River, he sat under a papal tree at
Bodhgaya. Here at the age of thirty five, he attained the Enlightenment.
A master piece created by an indigenous sculptor of Gandhara. To produce replicas of the
fasting Prince Siddhartha, attempts were made by different artists yet just two of these excellent
depictions are found that are in Lahore Museum appears to be first, the one found in Takht-iBahi monastery and the other found from Sikri, Mardan both date back to 2nd – 3rd century CE.
Attack of Mara
During his meditation under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya he undertook extraordinary austerities
starving and fasting for full six years. This exercise made his body emaciated to such an extent
that only skin and bones remained. At this juncture, Mara (The personification of evil and
temptation) thought that his power in the world would be seriously impaired if Siddhartha
obtained the supreme knowledge and subsequently lead other to salvation. As such, he used all
possible means to persuade Siddhartha to give up the quest. He tempted him with power and
pleasure, commanding his own daughters to disport themselves before Siddhartha. The future
Buddha refused to oblige Mara. Mara was enraged and collected his army of followers who
stood around him in various forms carrying lances, clubs and swords in their hands saving the
faces of boars, assess and camels to frighten Siddhartha. However, Siddhartha was not at all
alarmed and frightened. Eventually, Mara and his followers went away dejected.