Sanchi Stupa 1: Prince Visvantara Jataka

INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Sanchi

This panel depicting the Visvantara Jataka is located on the lower crossbar of the northern gateway. The story of Visvantara spans both sides of the gateway.
The jataka illustrates the concept of perfect generosity. The narrative proceeds from right to left and the episodes runs into each other. The Buddha was reborn, in the past, as the generous Prince Visvantara who granted anything requested of him. A rival kingdom asked on one occasion for the white elephant which was his country’s national treasure. When the prince willingly gave it up, there was an uproar among his people and he was exiled along with his family. Sakra manifests in various forms to test the prince’s generosity and reduces him to destitution. The prince’s family and possessions are finally returned to him and he is welcomed back to his country.
There are a total of ten events illustrated on the crossbar. The front of the crossbar contains four scenes that include the donation of the white elephant; the exile of the prince; the prince giving away his chariot; and living in the wilderness. Crowds of people fill the frieze but the prince can be identified by the side-topknot above his turban. The reverse side of the beam features crossing the pond, ascetic living, giving up his children and wife, a family gathering, and finally the return of the children. The panels are chronologically arranged with the exception of the last two, which are out of sequence. Unrelated decorative motifs are also interspersed between some episodes.