The theme of Mara-Vijaya during Buddha’s Mahaparinibbana was depicted...
- The theme of Mara Vijaya has been painted in the caves of Ajanta in cave No. 26.
- It is sculpted near the colossal Buddha image of Mahaparinibbana.
- The panel shows the image of the Buddha in the centre surrounded by Mara’s army along with his
daughter.
The event is part of the enlightenment. It is a personification of the commotion of mind which the Buddha went through at the time of enlightenment. Mara represents desire.
- According to the narrative, there is a dialogue between the Buddha and Mara, and the Buddha is shown
with his right hand indicating towards earth as a witness to his generosity. The composition is very complex with highly voluminous images. The figure on the right shows Mara coming with his army consisting of various kinds of people including some with grotesque animal faces. On the left lower end, the image of Mara is shown contemplating how to disturb Siddhartha, the name of the Buddha before
enlightenment. The army of Mara is shown marching towards the Buddha in the first half of the panel
whereas the lower half of the panel shows the departing army of Mara giving him adorations. The centrally placed Buddha is in padmasana and a tree at the back is shown by dense leaves.
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The theme of Mara-Vijaya during Buddha’s Mahaparinibbana was depicted...
The theme of Mara-Vijaya during Buddha's Mahaparinibbana was depicted in the Ajanta caves.
Ajanta caves:
- The Ajanta caves are a series of Buddhist cave temples located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India.
- These caves were built during the 2nd century BCE and the 6th century CE.
- They are renowned for their exquisite paintings and sculptures that depict various aspects of Buddhist art.
- The caves served as monastic retreats for Buddhist monks and were used for meditation, study, and religious rituals.
- The paintings in the Ajanta caves depict scenes from the life of the Buddha, as well as stories from Buddhist Jataka tales.
- One of the significant themes depicted in the Ajanta caves is the Mahaparinibbana of the Buddha, which refers to his final passing away or death.
- The Mahaparinibbana is an important event in the life of the Buddha and is often depicted in Buddhist art.
Mara-Vijaya:
- Mara-Vijaya refers to the victory over Mara, who is considered the personification of evil and the tempter of the Buddha.
- According to Buddhist mythology, Mara tried to distract and tempt the Buddha as he was about to attain enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
- Mara used various means to distract the Buddha, including sending his daughters to seduce him and unleashing armies of demons.
- However, the Buddha remained steadfast and overcame all the temptations and distractions of Mara.
- The victory over Mara represents the triumph of enlightenment and the Buddha's ability to transcend worldly desires and attachments.
Depiction in the Ajanta caves:
- In the Ajanta caves, the theme of Mara-Vijaya is depicted in several paintings and sculptures.
- The paintings show the Buddha seated under the Bodhi tree, surrounded by demons and temptresses sent by Mara.
- Despite the distractions, the Buddha remains calm and focused, with his hand touching the ground, symbolizing his victory over Mara.
- The sculptures also depict scenes from the Mahaparinibbana, including the final passing away of the Buddha.
In conclusion, the theme of Mara-Vijaya during Buddha's Mahaparinibbana was depicted in the Ajanta caves. These caves are known for their beautiful paintings and sculptures that depict various aspects of Buddhist art, including scenes from the life of the Buddha and his victory over Mara.
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