Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Khadirangara 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.
Khadiraṅgāra Jātaka
[Full title: Jātakas and Avadānas in the Amarāvatī Art: Khadiraṅgāra Jātaka]
Story:-
In the story of the Jātaka it is stated that when Brahmadatta was ruling Banaras, Bodhisattva was born as the son of the treasurer and built six almonries one at each of the four gates of the city and one at the gate of his own mansion.
One day at the breakfast when food was being brought for the Bodhisattva, a Pacceka Buddha who had just risen from seven days trance thought of approaching the treasurer of Banaras. So he asked his attendant to fetch Pacceka Buddha’s bowl to be filled with food. At that very moment Māra, the wicked one wanted to stop the attendant from giving food as he was aware that Pacceka Buddha did not take food for seven days and if he gets none today he will die. Mara asked his attendants to dig a pit of red-hot embers, eighty cubits deep, filled with charcoal all ablaze and a flame like the great hell of Avici. Mara stood in the mid air. The attendant who was entrusted to get the food for Pacceka Buddha became terrified and returned back to the pavilion. Bodhisattva decided to check the matter and standing on the brink of the pit asked Māra the reason for creating the pit to stop Bodhisattva from giving alms and destroy the life of Pacceka Buddha.
Unaffected by Māra’s statement Bodhisattva grasping the bowl of food walked on the surface of the pit of fire. On this moment a lotus flower rose up to the surface and received the feet of Bodhisattva. Standing on the lotus he poured the dainty food into the bowl of the Pacceka Buddha.
After this Pecceka Buddha took the food and flung his bowl aloft into heaven. He rose into the air and passed away to the Himālayas. Bodhisattva standing still on the lotus preached the truth to the people and showed charity[1].
Depiction:-
The Jātaka is identified on a fragment of a railing pillar at Amarāvatī. To the left of the panel a man is seen on a huge stone. He is identified as the Bodhisattva. A man with folded hands in anjali having a tuban appears to be Māra. He is seen before Bodhisattva as if emerging from the mouth of a multi-hooded snake[2]. This is preserved in the Madras Government Museum. (Pl 14d)
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Cowell E.B, Op.cit, Vol I -II, No. 40, pp 100-105.
[2]:
Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 218-218, pl LVIII, fig 4