This agarwood carving is based on the theme of Sakyamuni preaching the Dharma. In this group of statues, Buddha Sakyamuni is sitting on a pedestal carved with lions between Ananda on the left and Mahakasyapa on the right, with another Arhat in front of the pedestal. Sakyamuni was originally a prince of Kapilavastu. Grieved about the pains of birth, old age, illness and death in the mortal world, he decided to leave behind all his glory and wealth and began an ascetic life. Eventually, he was illuminated about the impermanence of the mortal world and attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. In the decades that followed, he went preaching all around India. In the end, he entered nirvana at the age of eighty under the twin Sal trees and was then enerated as “Buddha”. ....