Visvantara Legends in paintings

By
Min Bahadur shakya
Nagarjuna Institute of Exact methods
Contents
Introduction:
Jataka: definition
Legends and Message of the Jataka
Wall paintings at Ajanta and
Nepali paintings on Vishvantara legends
Further paintings on Vishvantara
Conclusion
Introduction
The Vishvantara legend is one of the most popular and
famous stories in the Buddhist world. It is extant in our
canonical Pali Jataka. The story is also available in the
Aryashura's Jatakamala, Avadanakalpalata,
Cariyapitaka, Bodhisattvadanamala and so forth.

The story was told by Lord Buddha while dwelling in

Nyagrodharama, near Kapilavastu about a shower of
rain.
Jataka definition
Definition of Jataka:
The Jataka is generally defined as previous birth stories
of Buddha Shakyamuni. There are several birth stories,
the collection of which is called the Jatakamala.
It can also be called Bodhisattva avadanamala for the
Bodhisattvavadana is nearly synonymous with Jataka.
Indeed the Jatakas are nothing but Avadanas the hero of
which is the Bodhisattva.
Legends of Vishvantara
In the story the Bodhisattva was born as prince
Vishvantara.
He appeared to be a child prodigy. From his early
childhood Visvantara's passion for charity was so
intense that the earth trembled when he pledged to make
a gift at the young age.
Vishvantara’s gifts of son Jalini kumara and daughter
Krishnajina was without parallel in literary history of
religions.
Through his act of generosity, it is said that there were
no beggars in his country
Antiquity of legend
Vishvanatara Jataka in Buddhist Sanskrit and Pali
literature
The Jataka stories are at least as old as the compilation
of the Buddhist canon at the council of Vesali, about 377
BC.
Perhaps one of the most famous and most popular of all
these legends in the whole of the Buddhist world is
Vishvantara Jataka.
The Vessantara Jataka is also available in the following
Sanskrit Buddhist texts
Source of the legend
Pali Jataka - No.547
Arya Shura's Jatakamala - No.9
Ksemendra's Avadanakalpalata - No.23
Bodhisattvadanamala -
Cariyapitaka - 1.9
Wall paintings at Ajanta
Vishvantara in Paintings:
 
A wall paintings on Vishvantara Jataka, can be found
in Cave 17, Anjanta, 5tH century, Gupta Period

 
Illustrated Manuscript Paintings
Vishvantara giving charity
Modern Paintings on Vishvantara
In Nepal we find various kinds of paintings to depict the
content of dharma. They are:
2. Illustrated Manuscript Paintings
3. Paubha Paintings
4. Scroll Paintings
5. Illustration of dharma thru modern paintings
6. Miniature paintings
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
Conclusion
The Vishvantara Jataka as one of Aryasura's 34
collections of Jataka stories, has a deep impact in the
livelihood of Nepalese commoners specially among the
Newar Buddhists.
As every Buddhist Newars irrespective whether they
understand Buddhist Philosophy or not have an ageold
customary of reading out the story in family gatherings
during special occasions.
Specially the eldermost in the family does this job. This
is a virtuous sacrament induced into the young
generation by the elders.
Contd.

Among the Jatakas, Vishvantara is the name almost

every newars know. They seem to be greatly influenced
by the charity of Vishvantara that's why they can
maintain the tradition of charity even to date like in
Pancadana and Samyak dana.
The ordinary Nepalese people inclined in Buddhist
dharma spontaneously associate Vishvantara to any
charity they make. Such is an influence of Vishvantara
Jataka. Such is the popularity of Vishvantara Jataka.
Contd.

Besides story telling, paintings on Vishvantara Jataka

are also displayed in various Baha and Bahis in the
month of Gunla which are actually vivid and awe
inspiring. All these things are intended to instill the
mind of charity in the heart of Nepalese by helping them
get rid of self-cherishing attitude.