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Buddha Shakyamuni

Subduing Mara's Attack

Artefact Description

Sculpted in this Gandharan relief was the life story of Buddha Shakyamuni, depicted in two scenes framed, and separated by Corinthian pilasters.

 

These two scenes are common themes revolving around the Life of the Buddha:

 

  1. Subduing Mara's Attack or Maradharsana (on the left), where Mara, the Evil One, with his demon armies attacked the ascetic Siddhartha; and
  2. The Great Departure (on the right), where Prince Siddhartha left his kingdom and renounced the worldly life.

The scene on the left frame depicts the story of the evil Mara, and his demon armies attacking ascetic Siddhartha to prevent Siddhartha from gaining Enlightenment.

Historical Background

Throughout the course of pondering and meditation, Mara, the personification of evil, was persistent and tried many attempts to prevent Siddhartha from coming to the Ultimate Understanding.1 c21; 2 p38, 8 p51; 3 p75, 9 c2, 10 c3

 

Mara sent his armies of monsters, but all their weapons and fired arrows transformed into flowers. As a final attack, Mara deployed his stunning, sensual daughters, who danced, voluptuously around Siddhartha, and attempted to seduce him. Mara said that nobody would believe that Siddhartha had not succumbed to their tricks and techniques.4 fig 7,67; 6 fig 40

 

With this, the solitary Siddhartha called the Earth Goddess to be his witness, by signalling down with his right hand. The earth opened and the goddess confirmed that he had remained steadfast. Mara backed down and slunk away.

 

Mara is the personification of evil in Buddhism. He is the most powerful, and the most formidable devil, who delights in manipulating others to do what he desires. Hence, he is also known as 'Papima Maro' or 'Namuci Maro', the opponent of liberation, or the personification of evil passions, and of death.2 p38

 

In Buddhism, Mara is said to possess ten kinds of passions as follows:

 

  1. Sense pleasures;
  2. Aversion to holy life;
  3. Hunger and thirst;
  4. Craving/ Desire;
  5. Sloth and torpor;
  6. Fear;
  7. Doubts;
  8. Detraction and obstinacy;
  9. Gain, praise, honour and ill-gotten fame; and
  10. Boasting and contempt of others.

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 'Subduing Mara's Attack' is elaborated with vivid depictions of meditating Buddha as the center figure, surrounded by Demon Mara's armies (in the form of personified passions), against the backdrop of the Bodhi tree.

Bibliography:

  1. Lalitavistara 'The Play in Full', Translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee, 2013
  2. Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero, Life of The Buddha In Gandhara Art, 2006, ISBN 981-05-7045-7
  3. Department of Tourism, Government of India, Walking with the Buddha, 2nd edition 2004, ISBN 81-87780-24-X
  4. Sir John Marshall, The Buddhist Art of Gandara, 3rd edition 2008, ISBN 978-81-215-0967-1
  5. Indian Museum, Kolkata, The Way of The Buddha, reprint 2005
  6. Ratan Parimoo, Life of the Buddha in Indian Sculpture, 1936, ISBN 13:9788124605523
  7. Charles F. Chicarelli, Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Introduction, 2004, ISBN 974-9575-54-7
  8. Awakenings in Bodhgaya, Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, 2010
  9. Ven. Narada Maha Thero, Vision of The Buddha, The Buddha and His Teachings, 2006, ISBN-10: 8179926176
  10. Saddhaloka, Encounters With Enlightenment, Stories from the Life of the Buddha, Windhorse Publications, 2001, ISBN 978 1 899579 37 2

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