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Worshippers at a sacred tree
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The square railing surrounding the base of the trunk is the marker of a sacred tree. This tree has the distinctive heart-shaped leaves of the Bodhi tree ( ficus religiosa ), which is the type of tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment. Each of the the worshippers holds a narrow-necked pot with lotus flowers emerging from the mouth. The lotus flowers are a symbol for water, so these figures are pouring offerings of pure water to the sacred tree.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineWorshippers at a sacred tree, about 50 BCE to 50 CE. Southern India, Andhra Pradesh, possibly Chandavaram. Limestone; overall: 80 x 57.1 cm (31 1/2 x 22 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1970.43
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