GANDHARA, 2ND/3RD CENTURY

According to the legend, when the Dipankara Buddha announced his visit to the town of Dipavati, the king reserved all available flowers to pay him proper homage. The young ascetic Sumati was unable to buy any until he met a young girl who had obtained some lotuses by chance. He acquired five from her and convinced her that in all future incarnations she should be his wife. When he tossed the lotuses to Dipankara they remained suspended in mid-air around the head of the Buddha, who then predicted that Sumati will be the Buddha in the eternal future lifetime. Upon receiving this blessing, Sumati untied his hair and used it to cover the muddy ground, asking Buddha to walk on it. This tale is illustrated in the present example by the pendant lotus stems framing Buddha's face against the halo. For a similar example see I. Kurita, Gandharan Art I, 2003, p. 10, fig. P1-II.