Buddha Preaching in Tushita Heaven

Amaravati, Satavahana period, 2d century AD
Indian Museum, Calcutta

After his enlightenment, Buddha ascended to Tushita heaven where he preached a sermon to the gods. The relief shown here is from Amaravati, an early monastic complex not far from Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh. The art of Amaravati was directly influenced by Roman contact (there was a nearby Roman trading colony on the coast), although that is not so obvious in this particular example.