This carving looks like it is on the exterior of the Stupa as it looks naturally lit. What I see is many people congregating around a dome shaped structure. The dome structure looks like it is a Stupa and the people surrounding it seem to be the worshipers. From the many instruments the worshipers are holding, it looks like they are having some kind of celebration around the Stupa. The row of people just below the Stupa look like they are bringing offerings into the Stupa. The top corners of the carvings seem to be occupies by angels instead of people. And just above the Stupa, there seems to be 3 relics. I believe this is representative of the three main gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.

I see a grand stupa in the middle top of the picture. There are eight angels surrounding it at the top can be seen by their wings. All of them are holding something and facing the stupa symbolising that some ritual event is going on. There are two roles of worshippers below the stupa. Some are praying and playing musical instruments while looking up at the stupa. In the middle of the second linear role, a carved human figure is praying and facing directly towards the stupa. His centralised position symbolises his importance. This shows the significance of the stupa and the religious practices.

The most prominent figure in this piece is the dome-like structure in the top middle. The fence below it connects to a gateway in its center, similar to that of a stupa’s entrance. There are three parasols placed on top of it, which may be associated with the three treasures of Buddhism.

The bottom half of the relief also depicts figures facing the dome, in gestures of prayer and presenting offerings. Hence, it is highly likely that the structure is a stupa, since it is a place of worship. Some of the figures are also playing musical instruments such as drums and flutes, which may mean that they are performing a ritual or a celebration. I also noticed that all of them are topless, which reveal their gender to be all males. Furthermore, all of them are also wearing the same design of boots, which hints that they are all from the same tribe or community. It is proposed that these figures originated from a cold country and are hence dressed in winter boots, However, I think this assessment contradicts the fact that they are half naked. Instead, I believe that the boots are part of their attire for the ritual, something like a costume we would wear for a performance.

Beside the stupa, there are the same male figures seemingly approaching it. This may be depicting devotees circumambulating the stupa in worship, since they are holding strung beads or garlands as offerings.

Above them, surrounding the stupa, there are winged figures with bird feet holding the same garlands. They seemed to be in mid-flight and tilting forwards, as if to drape the garland onto the stupa. They might have gotten the garlands from the devotees, and are thus the messengers between humans and the Buddha. This may depict the spiritual world or heaven, since they are unnatural and placed on the top half of the relief.

• This artwork, ‘North Torana, Stupa I (The Great Stupa)’ made by Saci, Central India, 2-3 Century C.E. is made of sandstone. It is a relief showing devotion at a stupa.

• The most prominent observation in this picture is the Stupa which centralises the entire composition. The Stupa has a dome like structure. Attempts to make the stupa more 3 dimensional as the fence is curved outwards to create an illusion of roundness. Such attempts can be justified as devotees would have to encircle the stupa in a clockwise direction to make their prayers. The fences surrounding the stupa increase in size from the top to the bottom row. This layering creates the illusion of depth and the large size of the stupa juxtaposed to the subject figures. On the top of the stupa lies 3 parasols, which may be referred to as the triple gems: the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings) and the Sangha.

• The stupa is the representation of the presence of Buddha, as the relics of Buddha lies within the stupa and Buddha was not depicted in a human form.

• On the upper half of the artwork, there are winged subject figures which are half bird and half human on either sides of the stupa. Their body are positioned in a way that they are facing towards the stupa, thus creating slight linear perspective. The winged creatures are known as Kinnara, a symbol in Buddhist and Hindu mythology, believed to "watch over" the well-being of humanity during tumultuous times. The Kinara is a symbol in Hindu mythology, believed to represent love, devotion, enlightenment and longevity, something held to be important by many people. It was believed that it was included in this relief as a form of auspicious motif to draw people to convert to Buddhism. They are also holding onto what it seems to be like a garland or strung beads as decorations or as offerings.

• Moving down, there are several more subject figures standing directly below the stupa. It may be suggested that the subject figures are devotees as their hands are clasped together in a praying Namaste position . / anjali mudra (worship), and their body posture is positioned in a  way that they are facing the stupa. In addition, there is a figure directly at the centre, in front of the entrance of the stupa has his back facing the viewers. The artist seem to have placed that back facing figure in the centre to act as a central vertical axis, that ensures equal number of people on each side of the stupa to create balance.

• At the base, the subject figures are holding musical instruments (drums, and their flutes). Their garment is significantly different from the Kinnaras and the subject figures below the stupa. It may be suggested that these subject figures are foreigners from cold countries as they are wearing boots, or that boots are part of the celebratory event costume.

• Positioning of the half bird half human figures with wings on the top half of the artwork, and the worshippers on the bottom half, beneath the stupa establishes a form of heavenly divide.
• However, all of the subject figures regardless of angels or mere mortals come together to worship the stupa, which holds the enlightened Buddha’s relics.