Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Turning away from Kingship and beginnings discontent’ 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.
Turning away from Kingship and beginnings discontent
[Full title: Depiction of scenes from the life of Buddha: Turning away from Kingship and beginnings discontent]
Story:-
Though king Śuddhodana tried to protect Siddhārtha from all sufferings, Bodhisattva grew tired of this palace life. However, Siddhārtha came to realize that the world is not full of enjoyment but consists of a lot of suffering. This existential realization is connected with two experiences meditation under the Jambu tree at the ploughing festival and his encounters with “four Signs” or Pūrvanimitta-the old man, the sick man, the dead man and a wandering mendicant. Pūrvanimitta though represented in various art centres of lower Kṛṣṇa valley but not found at Amarāvatī.