Kizil Cave 80: Life of the Buddha - Triumph over Six Non-Buddhist Teachers

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

This mural is located above the niche on the back wall of the main chamber. According to the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish, once at Venuvana Monastery in Rajagriha, six non-Buddhist spiritual teachers had a competition with the Buddha. After several trials, the six teachers were defeated and jumped into the river to commit suicide. The disciples of the six teachers then took refuge in the Buddha.
In this mural, the Buddha is seated in the center, dressed in a monastic robe that bares the right shoulder. The head and body are surrounded by a multi-layered nimbus and aureole. A row of small images of the Seven Buddhas are depicted above the central Buddha. Two rows of Bodhisattvas who either make offerings or listen to the Dharma are to the left. The six non-Buddhist teachers, decorated in Brahmin-style attire, can be found to the right. Above them is Guhyapadavajra who descends from the heavens. This represents the scene in which the Buddha and the non-Buddhist teachers had competed with their supernatural powers. The teachers flee in fear as Guhyapadavajra raises a flaming vajra to attack them. Below the Buddha, a kettle boils with four human heads inside.
The mural is dense and symmetrical. In this style of Dharma teaching illustration, the central figure is usually larger than the other characters in order to emphasize its importance.