TheSikri stupa is a work ofBuddhist art dated to 3rd-4th century from theKushan period inGandahara, consisting of 13 narrative panels withevents from the life of Buddha.[1][2] Modern restoration accounts for their order in theLahore Museum. The restoration began whileHarold Arthur Deane was still assigned to theNorth-West Frontier Province in what was thenBritish India (today part ofPakistan). Three photos taken around 1890 show the order of the panels in the earliest restoration.[3]
Buddha Shakyamuni is shown sitting on a grass mat. No grass mat is shown for the representation of Buddha in theTrayastrimsa heaven.[4] One panels depicts theDipankara Jataka—theJataka are stories of Buddha's incarnations before he was reborn asSiddhartha Gautama. In the panel Sumeda is shown in four forms appearing before theDīpankara Buddha. First Sumeda bargains with a flower seller. He throws thelotus flowers in the air before prostrating himself before Buddha. The final form shows Sumeda suspended in the air like one of the lotus flowers. This narrative mimics closely the legend of the Dipankara Jataka..[5]
