Ajanta Cave 19: Prophecy of Dipamkara Buddha
Stone
Ajanta Cave 19: Prophecy of Dipamkara Buddha
INDIA, Maharashtra, Aurangabad
This niche relief is located on the facade, adjacent to the entrance on the left side. According to the Abhiniskramana Sutra, many eons ago when Sakyamuni was still a Bodhisattva, he offered flowers to Dipamkara Buddha and laid his hair over the muddy ground for the Buddha to walk upon. The Buddha then prophesized that the Bodhisattva would attain enlightenment and become a Buddha named Sakyamuni.
In this relief, Dipamkara Buddha is much larger than the surrounding figures. The Buddha gazes downward with compassion and the right hand forms the varada (wish-granting) mudra. The right leg is slightly bent as if he is about to take a step. On the right side of the image, the Bodhisattva prostrates before the Buddha. To the left of Dipamkara is an attendant, and beneath the image is a rectangular niche with three seated Buddhas.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves A-E, page 56.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves A-E},
pages = 56,
title = {{Ajanta Cave 19: Prophecy of Dipamkara Buddha}},
volume = 5,
year = {2016}}