After attaining enlightenment, Buddha had only one main concern that the path of Dharma should be shown to everyone and to convince those who were not practicing Dharma, he showed many miracles, one of them is the miracle of the mango tree which is associated with the Twin Miracle executed in the Shravasti.
This miracle has been carved by highly skilled Sculptors supposed to be Ivory carvers, on the front portion at top of the stone pillar located on the eastern side i.e. left hand side of the Northern Gateway. Buddha accepted the challenge of six rival religious leaders of Rajagriha and promised to perform with time, place and also that he would perform this miracle under a mango tree.
The rivals who challenged uprooted all the mango trees and mango plants of the Shravasti. This challenge was given because they came to know that Buddha had banned the members of the Sangha or Community from showing miracles, so that miracles are not considered cheap magic.
When Buddha arrived at the time to show the miracle, there were no mango trees, but the gardener of the orchard presented a ripe mango to Buddha. After eating, the mango seed was kept on the ground and the gardener of the orchard whose name was Ganda poured water on Buddha’s hands water dropped on the mango seed. From the fresh mango seed immediately a plant sprouted and started growing, became a matured tree full of fruits.
This scene is being watched by the opposing religious teacher and King Prasenjit. King Prasenjit is one of the four figures below in the sculpture. It’s known as the Mango tree miracle after this the main miracle known as the Twin Miracle was performed in the Shravasti, according to the Buddha’s promise.
Below the upper Mango Tree Miracle is carved the story of Anantapindaka or Anathapindika, a wealthy merchant of Sravasti or Savatti who became an ardent devotee and patron of the Buddha.
He set out in search of a place not far from the city and not too noisy to build a large monastery for the Buddha. He found such land which was of Prince Jeta son of King Prasenjit, he offered to buy it but Jeta refused. But to appease Anantapindaka’s insistence, he asked him to cover the land with gold coins and the devotee gave gold coins equal to the area of ​​the land.
This scene is represented by square pieces on the ground. The tallest person shown on the right is Anantapindaka and on the left is Prince Jeta. The three buildings that Anantapindaka built as special residences for the Buddha are located in the Jetavana and are dear to the Buddha.
The Gandha-kuti where the Buddha resided located in the main monastery itself, which also depicts the Buddha through the Chetya Arch and Throne. So the larger building which is a monastery has a Chaitya arch and the throne shows the presence of the Buddha, the Kosamba Kuti which was used by the Buddha for solitary meditation does not have a Chaitya arch but the presence of the Buddha is shown by the throne.
