Bandhuma Jātaka

[Full title: Jātakas and Avadānas in the Amarāvatī Art: Bandhuma Jātaka]

It is the introductory part to the Vessantara Jātaka.

Story:-

According to the Jātaka once a king named Sivi was reigning the city of Jetuttara. He had a son named Sanjaya. When he came of age he was married to Phusati, the princess of king Madda. Her former connection with the world is noteworthy.

In the ninety first age from this, a teacher arose in the world named Vipassi. He was dwelling in the deer park of Khemā near the city of Bandhumati. Once several precious gifts were sent to King Bandhuma by a certain king. The king had two daughters. He gave sandalwood to his elder daughter and the golden wreath to his younger daughter. Both decided not to use these precious gifts but to use them for good purpose. They decided to offer these to Dasabala. They both proceeded to the hermitage in the deer park. The elder sister reverently sprinkled the Dasabala’s golden body with sandalwood powder and prayed that in time to come she wanted to be the mother of Buddha. The younger sister reverently placed upon Dasabala’s body the gold lace necklet which was made out of the golden wreath. She prayed that until she attains sainthood this ornament may never part from her body. The prayers of both the sisters were granted.

The elder princess was born in one of her later births as Phusati, the mother of Vessantara and later Māyādevi, the mother of Budhha. The younger princess was born as the daughter of king Kiki with a necklace on her neck. She was named as Uracchada. She attained sainthood in her sixteenth year on hearing a pious utterance of the Master. She entered the order and attained nirvāṇa^[1].

Depiction:-

The monoscenic narrative mode of the jātaka is identified on a limestone medallion of a cross bar at Amarāvatī. The scene shows the king seated in the rājaleelāsana attended by women and chowri bearers. To his right is a seated woman of high rank attended by maids. On the king’s left is a prince introducing the messengers sent by the king of another country to hand over his two gifts. There are a number of persons approaching the king through an arched gateway. Two noble ladies, one seated near the king and the other standing beside her are princesses who received presents and honoured the sage^[2]. This sculptural piece is housed in the Madras Government Museum (Pl 17b).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Cowell E.B, Op.cit, vol V-VII No 547, pp 247-279

[2]:

Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 234-235, pl XXV, fig 2.