The Death of the Buddha (Parinirvana)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

According to the Buddhist chronicles, when the Buddha died near the city of Kushinagara, in northern India, he broke free from the cycle of rebirths and attained nirvana, absolute release from karmic rebirth. This panel, which would have been displayed in the harmika enclosure at the summit of a stupa (relic mound), shows the Buddha surrounded by lay and monastic mourners expressing their grief. These reactions are contrasted with the calm of the monk Subhadra, seated facing the Buddha’s corpse, who alone comprehends the true meaning of the Buddha’s death. Images of the Buddha’s paranirvana based on this Gandharan prototype became important icons for veneration across the Buddhist world in the following centuries.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art