Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Mahilamukha Jataka’ of the study on Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology, including museum exhibitions of the major archeological antiquities. These pages show how the Buddhist establishment of Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) survived from 4th century BCE to 14th century CE. It includes references and translations of episodes of Buddha’s life drawn from the Avadanas and Jatakas which are illustrated in Amaravati art.
Mahilāmukha Jātaka
[Full title: Jātakas and Avadānas in the Amarāvatī Art: Mahilāmukha Jātaka]
Story:-
According to the Mahilāmukha Jātaka once upon a time Brahmadatta was the king of Banaras and Bodhisattva was the minister in the court. The king had a state elephant named Mahilamukha who was virtuous. One day at night some burglars came to the elephant’s place and sat down to discuss plans in which they talked about cruelty and violence. They repeated their visits to the elephant place and hearing them the elephant became cruel and violent. In the morning when his mahout appeared the elephant took him in his trunk and dashed him to death. He behaved in the same manner with every person who came near him. The king learnt that his pet elephant had gone mad and was killing people. Then the king sent his minister to find out the reason for his sudden change. After examining the elephant he came to the conclusion that there were no signs of physical disorder. He thought of the possible causes of the change and realized that the elephant must have heard about the bad deeds and was influenced by him.
After talking to the elephant keepers Bodhisattva went to the king and told him that the elephant has been perverted by the talks of the burglars. He requested the king to send good men, sages and Brāhmiṇs to sit near the elephant and talk about the good deed. The king gave orders accordingly. The elephant hearing once again became good and loving. The king thanked the Bodhisattva for his ability to read and change the mind of the elephant[1].
Depiction:-
At Amarāvatī, the synoptic narrative mode of the Jātaka is found on the coping stone fragment housed in the Madras Government Museum. (Pl 14c) To the right side of the panel, the king sits on a a royal throne in the court, attended by three women holding a circular fan and fly whisks. Below it are two ministers seated on the left and right sides. On the right side is a humble person in meditative mood having Yogapaṭṭa. He is possibly the wise minister of the king. Below them are few male and female persons who are probably reporting to the king about the killing of Mahilāmukha. Outside the gate of the court, on the left of the panel is the mahout with a goad generally used for controlling the elephant[2].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 218-219, pl LI, fig 1 and 2.