Veneration of the Buddha as a Fiery Pillar, late 100s-200s. Lively, attenuated figures of celestial beings and chthonic divinities dance in praise of the fiery pillar, which stands in for the presence of the Buddha. The central portion of the pillar is at the bottom of this fragment, and it is topped with a motif that combines a lotus flower with a trident-shaped symbol often used to mark a sacred and auspicious presence. The region of southeastern India where this relief was carved was one of the most prosperous centers of international maritime trade during the time of the Roman Empire.