Cleveland Museum of Art

The Great Miracle at Shravasti

Date

c. 100 CE

Medium

schist with traces of gold

Culture

Pakistan, Gandhara, Peshawar Valley, early Kushan period

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

After the Buddha reached enlightenment, he spent the remainder of his life traveling around northeastern India, giving teachings and performing miracles in order to convert followers and establish the Buddhist community. One of his most famous miracles is when he levitated and caused fire to leap from his shoulders and water to flow from his feet. The figures of two monks kneel in worship. Others press their hands together in a sign of devotion and submission, while the figures on the outer edges whistle and shake their upper garments, as was customary when an amazing sight was seen.

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