Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Rahula asks his inheritance’ 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.
Rāhula asks his inheritance
[Full title: Depiction of scenes from the life of Buddha: Rāhula asks his inheritance]
Story:-
The story is given in the Dhammapādatthakatha. When the Master was residing in Veluvana at Rājagriha, his father sent ten ambassadors to fetch him to Kapilāvastu. In Kapilāvastu the Master preached law to his father. On the seventh day the mother of Rāhula took him to Buddha. She pointed to her husband and told Rāhula that he possessed great stores of treasure and instructed him to ask of his inheritance.
The prince accordingly approached the Exalted one, followed him and requested him to give him inheritance. Buddha perceiving that the ordinary paternal inheritance was impermanent, he decided to give him noble inheritance that he obtained under the Bodhi tree. Thus Rāhula was admitted into the order. When Suddhodana learnt that Rāhula became a monk he was grieved. He requested Buddha to promise that he will never include any youth into the Order without the consent of his father and mother.[1]
Depiction:-
A fragment shows Rāhula being brought near Buddha and tutored to ask about his inheritance. The mother of the prince and her companion are respectfully standing aside watching the boy as he approaches his father.[2] This piece is preserved in the Madras Government Museum.
Another crossbar from Amarāvatī housed in the Archaeological Museum, Amarāvatī one can see the scene of the presentation of Rāhula by Yaśodharā.(Pl 24d) In the scene carved within an outline of lotus petals, Buddha has been represented symbolically by a throne, his pādukās below the throne and a flaming pillar surmounted by the triratna. A crowd of monks with robes is seen to the left of the throne while on the right is a group of women from royal household. A princely figure is seen presenting Rāhula to Buddha behind him. Yaśodharā stands in half turned attitude pointing her hand at her son urging him to ask for his inheritance[3].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Strong John S, Op.cit, pp 96-98
[2]:
Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 256-257, pl LXII, fig 2.