Fencing Contest
Bāgh Gaï - Historiated bas-relief
It is the left part of a fragmentary relief. The scene, surmounted by a denticulated cornice, depicts three armed characters dressed in simple short loincloths. The figure in the centre of the scene wears a uṣnīṣa and is nimbed. With one hand he holds the scabbard from which he has just drawn, with the other he brandishes his sword. The figure on the right, with curly hair, holds one hand up to his face and with the other holds up an indeterminate object. On the left, another figure also carries a uṣnīṣa, but is not nimbed. Legend has it that just before his marriage, in order to prove his worth to his in-laws and his future bride, Siddhārtha though weary of such demonstrations, had to prove that he was skilled in many arts, and he had to take part, among other things, in a fencing contest. This is probably the Buddha in the centre, nimbed, fighting against his cousin Devadatta carrying the uṣnīṣa and not nimbed.
Observation :The schist reliefs discovered by Barthoux between 1926 and 1928 are mostly from the vicinity of the Great Stūpa K1 of Tapa-i Kafarihā, the south-western part of the main stūpa B12 of Bāgh Gaï (around B13) and the Great Stūpa TK140 of Tapa Kalān.
Bibliographical References :DAGENS Bruno - 1964 - Monuments préislamiques d’Afghanistan - pl. I, n°6
TISSOT Francine - 2006 - Catalogue of the National Museum of Afghanistan (1931 – 1985) - p. 361, K.p. Ha. 938.5.