The Buddha Under a Tree
Bihar, Nalanda, 9th century CE
Phyllite, H: 41 cm, W: 26 cm
MIK Collection I. 575

This image of the Buddha is very well preserved.  He sits under a tree on an elaborately carved lotus throne between two columns with his hands in bhumisparsamudra.  Beside each column a frightening leogryph stands upright on its hind legs.  On either side of the flaming nimbus of the central image is one small Buddha seated on a lotus.  The hands of these Buddhas are in dharmacakramudra and  dhyanamudra.

A lion is depicted on each side of the throne beneath the lotus and devotee kneels in adoration near the feet of Buddha. 

An inscription on the pedestal gives the donor’s name and the information that this image was a gift of Damuka.

(R. Ghosh, In the Footsteps of the Buddha, pp. 179-80)