Anathapindada's Donation

Bharhut, c. 100 BC
Indian Museum, Calcutta

This medallion narrates Anathapindada's purchase of the Jetavanarama grove at Shravasti, as a donation to the Buddha and his community of followers. The owner requested such a high price that it could only be met by covering the ground with gold, as Anathapindada is doing here. The compositional technique includes continuous narrative: the two buildings shown at the left are chaitya halls that were erected on the land after its purchase. Beside one of the chaityas is a tree enclosed by the vedika (railing) that delimits a sacred space.