The Buddha descending from Indra's heaven

This sculpture shows the Buddha descending a serpentedged ladder from the heaven of Indra, the king of the gods, located at the summit of Mount Meru. In legends of his life, the Buddha goes to Indra's heaven to preach to his deceased mother. Upon his descent, the "three worlds"— the heavens, the earth, and the hells—open at once and all beings are able to see each other. The contorted faces of sufferers suggest hell below the foot of the Buddha's ladder.