Sage Asita's visit to Suddhadhana (Śuddhodana). Satavahana, 1st-2nd Century Amaravati, Madhya Pradesh at National Museum, Delhi, India 191 x 85 x 20 c

---

Sage Asita's visits King Suddhadhana (Śuddhodana) upon the birth of Siddhartha (Buddha) and upon seeing the auspicious marks on the baby prophesies that Siddhartha would either be a great king or a great monk. On this slab baby Siddhartha is shown symbolically through footprints. This particular portion is known as a lotus. Pankajam (one that grows in the muddy still waters), Lotus is a sign of creation, fertility, purity, and spiritual awakening in Indian mythology. 1st-2nd Century Amaravati, Madhya Pradesh at National Museum, Delhi, India 191 x 85 x 20 cms

---

Size: 6240px × 4160px
Location: National Museum Delhi
Photo credit: © wayfarer / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: amaravati, ancient, artefact, asian, asita, buddha, buddhism, buddhist, carved, carving, cultural, culture, delhi, detailed, details, eastern, embossed, embossing, exhibit, figure, figurine, historical, history, india, indian, intricate, isolated, lotus, madhya, monolith, museum, national, objects, ornament, ornamental, pattern, polished, practise, pradesh, religion, religious, sage, sculpted, sculpture, siddhartha, standing, statue, stone, suddhodana, sulpting