Skip to main content

Buddha Shakyamuni

The Great Renunciation

Artefact Description

This Khmer bas relief panel (like Angkor Wat) depicts the scene of Prince Siddhartha's Great Renunciation.

 

Prince Siddhartha is seen seated on a big stone, cutting his hair with a knife and surrounded by celestial beings. A celestial being is witnessed hovering overhead to receive the locks of Prince Siddhartha's hair, which he will carry off and enshrine in the Trayastrimsa Heaven.

 

On the left side of Prince Siddhartha lies a standing three-faced figure, who is probably Brahma (or the Trimutri), the Creator of Universe. The lower part of this artwork depicts the Anoma River, where Prince Siddhartha dismounted from his horse Kanthaka. Beside the river, the charioteer Chandaka is seen comforting Kanthaka, the Prince's horse.

Historical Background

After Prince Siddhartha left the city, he crossed the river Anoma and reached the river bank. There, Prince Siddhartha cut his hair, removed his royal clothes and handed them over to Chandaka, instructing him to go back to the kingdom to inform his father King Shuddhodana, and his wife Yasodhara, that he had become an ascetic.2 p30, 6 p 18, 7 c1

 

Chandaka, feeling extremely sad, had to turn back to take Kanthaka back.

 

Kanthaka, however, felt that his master was not coming back with them and would not mount him again. He could not bear the pain of not being able to see his kind master anymore. It was reported that Kanthaka died on the spot having a 'heart-burst'. Therefore, Chandaka had to walk back alone to report what happened.

 

He had no permanent abode thereafter. A shady tree or a lonely cave sheltered him by day or night. Bare-footed and bare-headed, he walked in the scorching sun and in the piercing cold. With no possessions to call his own, but a bowl to collect his food and robes just sufficient to cover the body, he concentrated all his energies on the quest for Truth.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum Similar Artefacts

Artefact Description

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

 

The scene of 'The Great Renunciation' is elaborated with vivid depictions of Prince Siddhartha, against the backdrop of the trees near the river bank of Anoma. His charioteer Chandaka is holding onto the Prince's robes, while his horse Kanthaka remains still at the back. 

Media Links:

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. 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. 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

Websites: