@article{Pons_2014, title={The Figure with a Bow in Gandhāran Great Departure Scenes. Some New Readings}, volume={1}, url={https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/150}, DOI={10.13154/er.v1.2014.15-94}, abstractNote={<p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-GB">The figure holding a bow on Gandh</span><span lang="EN-GB">ā</span><span lang="EN-GB">ran illustrations of the Bodhisattva’s departure from Kapilavastu has been the subject of controversy. First identified as M</span><span lang="EN-GB">ā</span><span lang="EN-GB">ra and Indra, the interpretation proposed by K. Tanabe that the protagonist is Vai</span><span lang="EN-GB">ś</span><span lang="EN-GB">rava</span><span lang="EN-GB">ṇ</span><span lang="EN-GB">a-Kubera rallied broader consensus. The present reassessment takes into account the multi-cultural and multi-religious context of production of the images, namely the Kushan era, to offer additional readings of the Gandh</span><span lang="EN-GB">ā</span><span lang="EN-GB">ran figure. The approach is two-fold. The examination of written and visual traditions of representing the episode is complemented by the analysis of the Gandh</span><span lang="EN-GB">ā</span><span lang="EN-GB">ran iconography in light of material from various cultural strands which came into contact in the region. As a final step, the article considers possible logics which might have constrained the construction of the Gandh</span><span lang="EN-GB">ā</span><span lang="EN-GB">ran portrayals and tests the hypothesis that further divinities from religious trends coeval in Gandh</span><span lang="EN-GB">ā</span><span lang="EN-GB">ra may be recognized under the guises of the bow-holder.</span></p>}, journal={Entangled Religions}, author={Pons, Jessie}, year={2014}, month={Oct.}, pages={15–94} }