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Buddha Shakyamuni

Night Before The Great Departure

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum Similar Artefacts

Artefact Description

This gold leaf on copper panel is the initial trial panel of the 'Eight Aspects of Buddha's Life'- panels found at the base of the Golden Sacred Relic Buddha Tooth Stupa, located on the 4th floor of the Temple. This was crafted by Shanghai Kangyu Enterprise.

 

The scene of 'Life in the Palace' is elaborated with the vivid depictions of Prince Siddhartha in the center foreground, with his right leg folded atop a cushion, while his right arm is bent towards his torso and his left arm bent with palm exposed, surrounded by his servants and entertainers. At the back of Prince Siddhartha lies Queen Yasodhara in a reclining position.

Historical Background

At midnight, the Prince awoke to see all the dancing girls sleeping, a very unpleasant sight. The Prince found everything no more pleasing and satisfying.

 

The Prince then thought it was time to leave the palace to become an ascetic to find the solution to Samsara.2 p29,30, 6 p18, 7 c1, 8 p38

 

The Four Sights had a significant influence on Prince Siddhartha's view of life, which resulted in a spiritual awakening to abandon the pursuit of material luxuries and fleeting pleasures.

 

He decided to relinquish his wealth and royal privileges, become an ascetic himself and seek a solution to human suffering. Knowing his family would not agree with his decision, he arranged to leave the palace secretly that night.

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Bibliography:

  1. The Lalita Vistara, English Translation by R. L. Mitra, 1998, ISBN 81-7030-576-4
  2. Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero, Life of The Buddha In Gandhara Art, 2006, ISBN 981-05-7045-7
  3. Indian Museum, Kolkata, The Way of The Buddha, reprint 2005
  4. Ratan Parimoo, Life of the Buddha in Indian Sculpture, 1936, ISBN 13:9788124605523
  5. Charles F. Chicarelli, Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Introduction, 2004, ISBN 974-9575-54-7
  6. Ven. Narada Maha Thero, Vision of The Buddha, The Buddha and His Teachings, 2006, ISBN-10: 8179926176
  7. Saddhaloka, Encounters With Enlightenment, Stories from the Life of the Buddha, Windhorse Publications, 2001, ISBN 978 1 899579 37 2
  8. Tokyo National Museum, NHK, The Art of Gandhara, Pakistan, Commemorative event for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan, 2002

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