Rear View of Architraves

North Gate of Stupa #1, Sanchi

This is the left side of the back of the North Gate, viewed from the elevated circumambulatory platform as one looks outward from the stupa. From top to bottom: Chhaddanta Jataka (an elephant incarnation of the Buddha, in which the elephant sacrifices his tusks to a hunter), Temptation of Mara, and Vessantara Jataka in which King Vessantara (another incarnation of Buddha) practices the virtue of generosity.

The decoration here is more complete than on the other gates. The architraves are carried by elephants, as on the East Gate.