The Great miracle at Śrāvastī

[Full title: Depiction of scenes from the life of Buddha: The Great miracle at Śrāvastī]

Story:-

The story is given is Dhammapada-atthakatha.

Once Buddha rebuked Pindola Bharaddaja for flying up in the air to receive a bowl for which the heretics could not perform. The heretics said that they refrained from performance of miracles for paltry things like wooden bowls and would show their powers only if Buddha performed miracles.

King Bimbisara reported this to Buddha. Buddha replied that if they performed miracles he would do the same. He then informed the king that four months later on an appointed day he would perform a miracle at the foot of a mango tree. The heretics tore up all the mango tree and even the saplings in the neighbourhood of Śrāvastī.

On the appointed day Buddha entered the city. The king’s gardener, Gaṇḍa, found a ripe mango rich in flavour and carried it to the king. But on seeing the Master he offered it to Buddha. Ānanda crushed the ripe fruit and offered the juice of mango to Buddha. After partaking it the Master told Gaṇḍa to plant the seed there.

Immediately there arose a huge Mango tree full of ripe mangoes and all the monks par took it. It was known as Gaṇḍa’s tree and the king posted a guard so that nobody cuts the tree.

Gods built a pavilion at the foot of the Mango tree for Buddha to perform a miracle. Buddha started it by creating a jewelled walk way in mid air and stood upon it. He performed miracle of double appearance-from upper part of his body flames shoot up while from the lower stream of water arose. Then he reversed it^[1].

Depiction:-

A panel from Amarāvatī preserved in the Madras Government Museum depicts nimbate Buddha showing the attitude of assurance under the miraculous Mango tree surrounded by five seated and a standing chowri bearer. The scene to the right shows monks adoring Buddha with flames issuing from his body. The figure of Buddha is completely lost except the right knee and a part of his right hand and shoulder. He is adored by monks with hands in añjali mudrā^[2]. (Pl 25a)

Another depiction is found on the central medallion of a rail pillar preserved in the Madras Government Museum. In the partly defaced medallion there is a Mango tree with an empty throne beneath it and a flaming pillar to suggest Buddha’s presence. There are devotees of Buddha. In the panels above Buddha is in the air with flames issuing from his body^[3].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Strong John S, Op.cit, pp 107-108. Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 193-194

[2]:

Ibid, pp 193-194, pl XLVII, fig1

[3]:

Ibid, pp 194-195, pl XXXVIII, fig 2.