Bath of the Newborn Siddhartha (Bath of the Infant Gautama Buddha)

terracotta votive tablet

8.5 x 6.5 cm

Gandhara (Afghanistan/Pakistan); said to be from Taxila

circa 1st-5th century CE (Kushan or Gupta) 

The newborn Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha) is standing on a stool, flanked by two kneeling women holding his arms and showered by a stream of water issuing from two converged pots held up by attendants, probably by the gods Indra on the right and Brahma on the left.