Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates 鈥榦ffering of milk-rice鈥� 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鈥檚 life drawn from the Avadanas and Jatakas which are illustrated in Amaravati art.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
The offering of milk-rice
[Full title: Depiction of scenes from the life of Buddha: The offering of milk-rice]
Story:-
Shortly after this he received milk rice by a local woman called 厂耻箩腻迟补 at 厂别苍腻苍墨 village. This was the last meal before Enlightenment. 厂耻箩腻迟补鈥檚 offering of milk-rice is important because it marks the beginning of the Enlightenment process. According to 础惫颈诲耻谤别苍颈诲腻苍补 厂耻箩腻迟补 was the daughter of a 厂别苍腻苍墨, a rich man of Uruvilva. She promised rich offerings to a Nigrodha tree if her wishes are realized. Things happened as she prayed for. She accordingly made preparation to fulfill her promise. When Bodhisattva went to the Uruvilva forest and sat under the tree, the surrounding place was illuminated[1]. Having heard of this 厂耻箩腻迟补 went to him and offered him milk rice. The story is given in 狈颈诲腻苍补办补迟丑腻[2].
Depiction:-
A frieze in the British Museum consists of a panel and a medallion containing two similar scenes. The former scene shows the flowing of Nairanjan膩 river and the latter scene depicts 厂耻箩腻迟补 paying tribute to Buddha. Buddha鈥檚 presence is symbolically represented by a tree[3]. Another relief in the British Museum collection shows the illustration of this episode. Here 厂耻箩腻迟补 is carved standing in tribhanga posture carrying 辫腻驰补艣补尘 for 厂颈诲诲丑腻谤迟丑补. She carries a pot on the right side of her waist. 厂耻箩腻迟补 is accompanied by many women. The scene is set in a rural environment depicting both rectangular and circular thatched huts[4]. Master is shown seated anthropomorphically on a throne in 辫补诲尘腻蝉补苍补. His one hand is in the abhaya and the other one in dhy膩na mudr膩. 厂耻箩腻迟补 is positioned trying to offer the pitcher to lord preparing himself for meditation.
A broken slab near the top and weathered at the right end shows Buddha seated on the throne and women attending on him with great devotion. Some are requesting him to take food brought by them. The scene has been identified by T.N Ramachandra as the story of 厂耻箩腻迟补. This sculpture shows 厂耻箩腻迟补 offering food to seated Buddha. The vessel containing it is covered. The child of 厂耻箩腻迟补 is also shown adoring Buddha in the form of a little boy. Punna and other attendants of 厂耻箩腻迟补 are shown[5]. This relief his preserved in the Madras Government Museum. (Pl 22b)
An 腻测补办补 frieze panel on a drum slab preserved in the British Museum shows the gift of grain from 厂耻箩腻迟补 to Buddha at the time of Enlightenment[6].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 253-254.
[2]:
Davids T.W Rhys, 1972, Op.cit, pp 184-188.
[3]:
Knox Robert, Op.cit, pp 50-52, pl 6, (inner face)
[4]:
Parimoo Ratan, Op.cit, p 53, fig 36.
[5]:
Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 253-254, pl LX, fig 2.
[6]:
Knox Robert, Op.cit, pp 147-148, fig 76.