The Demise or Mahāparinirvāṇa

[Full title: Depiction of scenes from the life of Buddha: The Demise or Mahāparinirvāṇa]

Story:-

After receiving his meal from Cunda Karmāraputra at Pava Buddha suffered from blood dysentery. He asked Ānanda to move westwards. Crossing the Hiraṇyavatī river they reached Kuśīinagara and rested in Upavattana called Śālavana. Ānanda prepared a couch for him between two Śāla trees and Buddha rested on it. On the request of his chief disciple he announced that Lumbinī, Bodhogayā, Sārnath and Kśīnagara should be treated as holy places after his nirvāṇa. Simultaneously Buddha gave instructions for his funeral and related rituals. Learning of his impending death the people of Malla Janapada rushed to the Salavana and witnessed the last ordination given by Buddha to Subhadra. Finally Buddha had gone for four dhyānas and rising from them attained his Mahāparinirvāṇa. His body was carried by devatas and Malla chiefs and the procession comprising dance, song and music was taken to Mukuṭa Bandhana situated on the east of Kuśīnagara and was cremated^[1].

Depiction:-

The inner face of a railing pillar from Amarāvatī depicts the narrative scene of Mahāparinirvāṇa divided into two registers. The scene on the left depicts the worship of a stūpa by a group of monks and laity. Stūpa symbolically signifies Buddha’s Mahāparinirvāṇa. To the left of the stūpa is a female figure and another women standing behind her carry a pair of garlands from a tray held upon the head of a dwarf. The stūpa has a garlanded dome with an umbrella and hanging garlands upon a lotus base. Below the stūpa sits a female figure in the attitude of worship and another dwarf at the right. At the bottom of the register is a group of four seated cattle with two herdsmen. This specimen is preserved in the British Museum collection^[2].

In another depiction from Amarāvatī sculpted on the drum pilaster, the topmost register shows the “Death of Buddha” (Mahāparinirvāṇa) in the form of a stūpa. At the entrance to the stūpa is a pillar-like object. The stūpa is flanked by toraṇa and a standing female figure. A single triratna adorns the upper crossbar of each toraṇa and above these are flying human figure.^[3]

The third register of a dome slab from Amarāvatī preserved in the British Museum depicts the Death of Buddha. A stūpa rests on a double base with a high railing with fluted pillars adorned with three lotus roundels. The dome is decorated with garlands and out of the harmikā emerge eight umbrellas. On either side of the umbrella is a pair of flying worshippers with offering bowls on their hands. On either side of the stūpa is a pair of male worshippers kneeling on one knee and with hands raised in anjali mudrā.^[4]

Another illustration of the Mahāparinirvāṇa scene is visible on a single register of a dome slab. The Death of Buddha is represented in the form of a stūpa on a double lotus base. Out of the harmikā protrude a mass of umbrellas. To the left and right of the stūpa sit two male worshippers crosslegged with hands raised in anjali mudrā. Above them is a pair of flying male worshippers carrying offering bowls on their raised left hands.^[5]

A dome slab from Amarāvatī preserved in the Archaeological Museum, Amarāvatī contained the illustration of Mahāparinirvāṇa in the top most register. The scene depicts the worship of the stūpa by two devotees and two flying figures. (Pl 27a)

Similar depiction is also seen in several art centres of Amarāvatī School.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Strong John S, Op.cit, pp 134-144.

[2]:

Knox Robert, Op.cit, pp 99-100, fig 40.

[3]:

Ibid, pp 157-158, fig 83.

[4]:

Ibid, pp 163-164, fig 88.

[5]:

Ibid, p 164, fig 90.