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Fragment from a Narrative Relief Depicting Rishis
Not on view
These highly animated and expressive holy men, or rishis, probably belonged to a scene of the Buddha preaching, possibly associated with one of the Sravasti Miracles. Their expressions and gestures suggest that they are not celebrants but rather rival sages, distressed that their beliefs have been overturned by the Buddha’s revelations. They wear flayed animal skins over their shoulders and devotional beads (akshamala) as armbands, indicating that they are devotees of Shiva. This terracotta shows strong allegiances to the northern Indian Gupta style of the sixth century, especially evident in the expressive characterization of these Brahman ascetics.
cat. no. 33
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