The origin of Buddhist icons in ancient India could be traced back to early to mid-1st century, with the Seated Buddha stone relief from Katra and Buddhist images found in Butkara I in the Swat Valley. The earliest Buddhist depictions are likely found in illustrated stories of Buddhist legends, including The Four Heavenly Kings Offer Alms, Śakra’s interview, The King and the Buddha found in Mathura; The Prince Decides to Become a Monk and The Brahma’s Request found in Butkara. The compositions of these illustrations show influences from carvings found in Bharhut and Sanchi that date back to 1st to 2nd century BCE. The gestures and inscriptions observed show that the images of Shakyamuni and Amitabha reference the extensive history of anthropomorphic deities, such as the yakshas, found in the traditions practiced in central India.
