Abstract
Thousands of narrative relief panels depicting different scenes of the life of the Buddha were carved in
grey schist in Gandhära. Among thcsc, one episode can be singled out as showing several figures or
of the celestial bodies: the Great Renunciation immediately preceding the Great Departure.
when Siddhärtha. after a night full of pleasure, dance and music, felt disgusted with the vanities of life
and decided to leave his palace, abandon worldly life and accomplish the renunciation (abhiniskramana).
This event took place when he had attained the agc of twenty-ninc years.
Altogether thirteen relief panels of this event have so far been found that include representations Of
the celestial bodies (see the list given in the Appendix). In all reliefs Siddhärtha. the future Buddha. is
shown in the Of his palace, populated by musicians Who have fallen asleep after a night Of
music and dance. Siddhårtha is generally shown in the act of stepping down from the edge of the bed to
leave the palace and his sleeping wife Yasodharä, who is lying behind him.
GERD J -R. MEVISSEN . (2011) The Great Renunciation: Astral Deities in Gandhära , Pakistan Heritage, Volume 3, Issue 1.
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