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Drum panel with scenes of the Great Departure and Temptation of the Buddha

first half 3rd century CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 235
Of the many moments in the life of the historical Buddha told in the canonical biographies, two were especially favored for stupa decoration: the Great Departure and the Temptation. Both narratives are depicted on this drum panel from Nagarjunakonda. Each epitomizes the negation of desire, represented below by Prince Siddhartha’s renunciation of privilege to become an ascetic seeker of knowledge—the beginning of his spiritual journey—and above, by his resistance of the temptations offered by Mara, the force of darkness.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Drum panel with scenes of the Great Departure and Temptation of the Buddha
  • Period: Ikshvaku period
  • Date: first half 3rd century CE
  • Culture: India, Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
  • Medium: Limestone
  • Dimensions: H. 56 3/4 in. (144.2 cm); W. 36 1/4 in. (92.1 cm); D. 6 in. (15.2 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1928
  • Object Number: 28.105
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Drum panel depicting a stupa with the Buddha’s descent from Trayastrimsa Heaven, Limestone, India, Nagarjunakonda Stupa Site 6, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
Drum panel depicting a stupa with the Buddha’s descent from Trayastrimsa Heaven
India, Nagarjunakonda Stupa Site 6, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
late 3rd century CE
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3rd century CE
Dharma-wheel pilaster (dharmacakrastambha), Limestone, Andhra Pradesh, possibly Ghantasala, Krishna district
Dharma-wheel pilaster (dharmacakrastambha)
Andhra Pradesh, possibly Ghantasala, Krishna district
ca. early 3rd century CE
The Conversion and Ordination of Nanda, Limestone, India (Andhra Pradesh, Goli)
The Conversion and Ordination of Nanda
India (Andhra Pradesh, Goli)
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Naga attendant holding a fly whisk, Limestone, India, probably Goli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
Naga attendant holding a fly whisk
India, probably Goli, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh
ca. 3rd century CE

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