Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Miracle under the Jambu Tree’ 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.
The Miracle under the Jambu Tree
[Full title: Depiction of scenes from the life of Buddha: The Miracle under the Jambu Tree]
Story:-
Young Bodhisattva meditated when he went to watch the ploughing festival. At the ploughing festival he observed the suffering of creatures and humans and achieved the first level of meditative trance under the Jambu tree.
According to the Nidānakathā when king Śuddhodana went to the field to participate in the ploughing festival child Siddhārtha was left under the shade of the Jambu tree. He was left under the care of the nurses who after sometime moved away to watch the ploughing festival. The child in the meantime began to meditate. The shade of the Jambu tree remained in position but in case of other trees the shadows moved. This miracle brought the king to the spot and he did homage to his son.
Kshemendra in Avadānakalpalatā has a different version of the story. According to it the miracle occurs after the prince had seen the miseries of life. After the sight of the recluse he grew disgusted with worldly life. His charioteer informed this to Śuddhodana. The prince was taken out to amuse himself and on the way he saw a tired cultivator. He felt sad for the suffering of the cultivator. The chariot was turned back and on the way rested under the shade of the Jambu tree. The shadow of other trees moved as time advanced but beneath the Jambu tree it was fixed. The king in the meantime came to meet his son and saw this miracle. He bowed to him in reverence[1].
Depiction:-
A fragmentary pillar from Amarāvatī bears this depiction. The relief on the lowermost panel and a part above it illustrate the miracle. Here a prince is seated under the tree. To his right is a turbaned man and a kneeling and seated women opposite to him[2].
The miracle under the Jambu tree also found representation on a chaitya slab from Gummadidurru, now preserved in the Los Angeles County Museum[3]. (Pl 21a)
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Strong John S, 2001, The Buddha a Short Biography, England, pp 46-48. Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 249-250
[2]:
Ibid, p 249.
[3]:
Stone Elizabeth Rosen, Op.cit, pl 241.