尺寸：H. 49.5 cm x W. 29.8 cm x D. 15.2 cm
年代：9世纪
质地：石雕(Basalt)
风格：印度 帕拉
来源：旧金山亚洲艺术博物馆
参阅：外部链接
鉴赏：
The Buddha descending from Indra's heaven flanked by the deities Brahma and Indra

This sculpture depicts one of the many miraculous stories of the Buddha. He is shown descending from Indra’s heaven. The Buddha went to this heaven, ruled over by the king of the gods, to preach to his deceased mother and the other inhabitants. When the Buddha was ready to return to Earth, Indra and another powerful god, Brahma, honored him by accompanying him as highranking attendants would. Brahma is recognizable by his four heads (of which one is unseen and understood to be at the back). Indra holds an honorific parasol over the Buddha. Buddhist mythology accepts the existence of gods such as Indra and Brahma but treats them as secondary.

佛陀自忉利天下降像，梵天、帝释天胁侍

这尊雕塑展现了佛陀众多神变故事之一——自忉利天下降的场景。佛陀曾上升至天神之王所统领的忉利天宫，为已故的母亲及天众说法。当佛陀准备返回人间时，帝释天与另一位大神梵天，以高级侍者的身份随侍左右，以示尊崇。梵天以其四首为特征（其中一首位于脑后，故不可见）。帝释天则为佛陀擎举宝盖，以示敬意。佛教神话承认帝释天、梵天等诸神的存在，但将其置于次要的从属地位。