Kizil Cave 205: King Ajatasatru’s Bath

CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu

Originally situated on the inner wall of the left corridor, this mural portrays King Ajatasatru’s sorrow upon learning of the Buddha’s parinirvana.
There are three scenes. On the right, the sun and the moon fall from the sky, mountains collapse, and rivers overflow after the Buddha’s parinirvana. To the upper left, King Ajatasatru and his consort are depicted seated in the palace. The minister Varsakara holds a silk painting of the four major events of the Buddha’s life, including his birth, subduing Mara and enlightenment, teaching the Dharma, and his passing into parinirvana. At this point, the king realizes that the Buddha has passed on, whereupon he faints in his sudden grief. Several colorful porcelain jars stand to the upper right, and, within one, is the king with arms raised. This image represents the scene of the courtiers bathing the king with seven jars of fragrant water in order to revive him. The mural is painted in harmonious colors and smooth lines.