Interpretation of the Dream
Haḍḍa, lost location - Historiated bas-relief
This is the left-hand side of a very damaged relief. The scene takes place inside: a kudu arch can be seen supported by Indo-Corinthian pilasters with indentations. The scroll of the arch supports a balcony where three figures are seated. At the centre of the scene, under the arch, King Suddhodana is seated in the Lalitāsana pose of royal relaxation on a seat with turned wooden legs. He wears a heavy collar, his clothing no longer discernible. Turning slightly to the left, he gives audience to an old ascetic with a beard and a bun. This relief represents the episode in which the wise Brahmin Asita interprets the dream of Queen Māyā. He reveals that the dream announces the upcoming birth of a future Buddha or a future Cakravartin depending on the path the child chooses. The queen was probably under the missing part of the bow.
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°3
TISSOT Francine - 2006 - Catalogue of the National Museum of Afghanistan (1931 – 1985) - p. 360, K.p. Ha. 936.3.
FOUCHER Alfred - 1913 - Les Images indiennes de la Fortune - p. 124
INGHOLT Harald - 1957 - Gandhāran Art in Pakistan - p. 100, pl.161d