The Buddha Descending from Trayastrimsa Heaven at Sankissa

According to an apocryphal story, the Buddha visited his deceased mother Queen Maya in Indra’s heaven and shared some of his teachings. Having honored his mother, he descended a heavenly staircase to the earthly city of Sankissa where his disciples, devas and lay devotees awaited him. In this depiction, a tripartite composition shows the celestial realm of Indra’s heaven above, the city of Sankissa in the middle, and a vision of hell below. In the upper register, the golden figure of the Buddha sits in meditation while he transmits his teachings to Queen Maya, represented by the gold and emerald stupa that embodies her essence. Having completed his instruction, the Buddha descends a staircase spanning the vast oceans that separate the heavenly and earthly spheres. He is shown on the lower step about to return to the mortal realm, where hie is awaited by an assembly of disciples, devas, and lay worshippers representing a microcosm of the heterogeneous Thai society of the time. A crenulated city wall and watch tower divides the mortal realm from one of the Buddhist hells.