The Great Demise of Buddha (mahaparinirvana)

Description

Gandharan stupas illustrated various scenes from Buddha’s life. The scenes were separated with a Corinthian pillar motif on the stupa base (medhi) and the drum (anda). In consonance with the Mahaparinirvana Sutra of the Digha Nikaya, Kushan Gandhara art created unique representations of Buddha’s transcendence (mahaparinirvana) and last rites. At the age of eighty, Shakyamuni Buddha attained mahaparinirvana while traveling from Rajgir to Kushinagar. At the time of his passing away, Ananda, a senior monk in the monastic order (sangha), stayed by Buddha’s side.