Palcho Monastery Central Hall: Illustration of the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish - Chapter on the Elephant Helper

CHINA, Tibet, Gyantse

This 15th century mural in the central hall of Palcho Monastery is based on the “Chapter on the Elephant Helper” in the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish. According to the sutra, there was once an elder who lived in Magadha, India. On the day his son was born, a golden elephant appeared. Every time it defecated, the droppings would turn into gold. The elder thus named his son Elephant Helper. When Prince Ajatasatru heard about this, he wanted the golden elephant for himself. After his ascension to the throne, Ajatasatru summoned Elephant Helper to his palace and declared that he was taking the golden elephant. However, when Elephant Helper departed, the golden elephant disappeared. Worried that the king might do him harm, Elephant Helper renounced worldly life. He became a follower of the Buddha and eventually attained Arhatship.
In the first scene, Elephant Helper and his parents are shown traveling to the palace after being summoned by the king. Next the king is depicted holding the hand of Elephant Helper’s mother, singing praises of her son. The final scene departs somewhat from the story, depicting both Elephant Helper and King Ajatasatru paying respect to the Buddha. Sitting within a pavilion in the center of the image, the Buddha reaches down with his right hand to form the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. Disciples sit beside the pavilion, joining their palms in reverence. The man dressed in green in the lower register is identified by a Tibetan inscription as King Ajatasatru.