The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Ayaka panel with depiction of an Andhra stupa

India, Dhulikatta Great Stupa, Karimnagar district, Telangana

1st century BCE

Not on view

The elemental power of Buddhist architecture is superbly conveyed in this depiction on a panel from an offering platform at the Dhulikatta stupa. The building blocks represented—basement, drum, and dome, with umbrellas (chattras) radiating from the enclosure (harmika) at the summit—have a simplicity of form that emphasizes the singular purpose of the stupa, to house the relics. Traces of plaster with pigment in concealed recesses alert us to the colorful appearance of these stupas when under active worship. All surfaces were likely lime-plastered and brightly polychromed, giving the ancient Buddhist architecture a very different appearance to that seen today.

Ayaka panel with depiction of an Andhra stupa, Limestone, India, Dhulikatta Great Stupa, Karimnagar district, Telangana — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Ayaka panel with depiction of an Andhra stupa, Limestone, India, Dhulikatta Great Stupa, Karimnagar district, Telangana

Ayaka panel with depiction of an Andhra stupa, Limestone, India, Dhulikatta Great Stupa, Karimnagar district, Telangana

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Ayaka panel with depiction of an Andhra stupa

Period: Early Satavahana

Date: 1st century BCE

Culture: India, Dhulikatta Great Stupa, Karimnagar district, Telangana

Medium: Limestone

Dimensions: H. 42 1/8 in. (107 cm); W. 48 1/16 in. (122 cm); D. 9 1/16 in. (23 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by Karimnagar Archaeology Museum

Rights and Reproduction: Photo by Theirry Ollivier

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.