Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Duta 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.
Dūta Jātaka
[Full title: Jātakas and Avadānas in the Amarāvatī Art: Dūta Jātaka]
Story:-
When the king Brahmadatta was the king of Banaras, the Bodhisattva was born as his son. He inherited the kingdom after his father’s death. He was very fond of exquisite food and was extravagant in his eating. He sat upon a royal dais made of gold, under a white parasol with princesses all around him and ate food of hundred delicate flavours.
One day a greedy man saw Bodhisattva’s eating and desired to have a taste. He ran up to the king calling out loudly “Messenger! Messenger” with his hands held up. The man ran up swiftly and catching a piece of rice from the king’s dish put it in his mouth. Seeing this, swordsman drew his sword to cut off the man’s head but the king stopped him and asked the man to eat. After the meal the king offered drinking water and betel nut and asked him about the message he had got. In reply he said that he was the messenger from lust and belly who insisted him to come there. When the king heard this he was pleased with his truthfulness and showered honours upon him[1].
Depiction:-
The static monoscenic episode of the Jātaka is carved on a limestone coping fragment from Amarāvatī preserved in the Madras Government Museum (Pl 15c). Though the panel is mutilated, it preserves some details of the Jātaka. The depiction of the Jātaka inside the gateway suggests that the incident took place in a pavilion. The panel shows the king seated on a royal throne amidst his attendants. Opposite to the king is a low circular table with a large plate. One of the attendants on the left top has a vessel filled with food for the king. The man who is kneeling down at the king’s feet is the greedy man. The king is shown turning his face towards the swordsman to stop him from smitting the greedy man’s head. The greedy man is kneeling at the king’s feet with the fear of death. But the king is exhibiting reassurance gesture and ordering food and water[2].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Cowell E.B, Op.cit, Vol I -II, No. 260, pp 221-222.
[2]:
Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 213-214, pl LII, fig 2