There are several similarities in the lives of Buddha and Christ, and one is that they performed miracles. Both walked on water, healed the sick and fed a multitude.The mythology of miracles is a potent language for creating legitimacy, for conversion to a burgeoning new faith.
This bas relief from Sanchi attests to the miracle of walking on the waters of a turbulent river, Nairanjana, by Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha. Carved on the Eastern Gateway that frames the Great Stupa of Sanchi, it testifies not only to the patronage of the Satavahanas in the 1st century BC, but also to the fine craftsmanship of the ivory carvers' guilds from Vidisha in MP.
The synoptic narrative of this incident is magnificently shown by a boat with three figures in the upper half of the panel, with four figures at the bottom, surrounded by avariety of trees.All these carvings are set in water, suggested by undulating wavy lines, filled with all manner of aquatic life.
Buddha's presence is suggested by the garlanded tree in the right corner, as well as by the placement of a central stone divider towards which both sets of figures are turned, revealing the non-figural representation of the Buddha in early Buddhism.Thus the tree and divider on the river represent Buddha’s miracle of walking on water. The central figure in the boat is Kashyapa, a Vedic fire worshipper. On seeing the miracle, he and the other fire worshippers below, get converted.
For more information see Unseen Presence: The Buddha and Sanchi edited by Vidya Dehejia,Marg Publications, 1996
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