Being Flanked by Brahmā and Indra

Reassessing the Iconography of the ‘Entreaty to Teach’ in Gandhāra

Bibliographic Data

ID19483929
AuthorsTianshu Zhu (0000-0002-2039-5359, University of Macau, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume17
Issue4
Pages434
Publication date2026-04-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel17040434
OpenAlexW7147576160
LanguageEN
References cited16

The representations of a Buddha flanked on either side by Brahmā and Indra from Gandhāra have long been identified as the iconography of “Entreaty to Teach,” an episode in the Buddha’s life. After he obtained enlightenment, Śākyamuni had planned to enter nirvana immediately but Brahmā and Indra persuaded the Buddha to teach the Dharma for the sake of sentient beings. This subject is quite prominent in Gandhāran Buddhist art. It appears among a group of earliest anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha. It is one of the first events singled out from the Buddha’s life to be represented with the Buddha image; this event does not glorify the Buddha, but rather contaminates his imagery somewhat. In fact, pairing Brahmā and Indra on either side of a main figure became very common later in Gandhāran, art and it also appears in other iconographies. Were these images meant only to represent the narrative of “Entreaty to Teach?” This study reassesses this well-known iconography in both visual and textual traditions. Challenging current identification in the field, the author suggests the possibility that this iconography represents an iconic image of the Buddha that is meant to glorify the Buddha by subordinating the top two Brahmanic gods as his attendants

Bodhisattva · Buddhism · Emblem · Gautama Buddha · Iconography · Narrative · Subject (documents) · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Indian and Buddhist Studies · Psychiatry, Mental Health, Neuroscience

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access