The Offering of the Four Bowls to Buddha

Origin: Indian, Northwest Gandhara Region, Kushan Period (A.D. 50 - 320)
Date: 1st to 2nd century A.D.
Medium: Gray schist
Gift of Clara T. and Gilbert J. Yager and Ackland Fund
90.35

This relief represents the Buddha's first meal after attaining enlightenment, when the guardians of the four quarters of the Cosmos offered him food. The Buddha in his humility refused food served in precious bowls of gold and silver, and at last, the guardians offered it in four bowls of stone. Buddha then took the four bowls and miraculously combined them into one, refusing to give preference to one offering over another, and at the same time affirming the unity of the four quarters of the universe under the law of Buddhism.