Jueyuan Temple Great Hero Hall: Life of the Buddha - Ananda Asking for Milk

CHINA, Sichuan, Guangyuan; Ming dynasty

This painting is located on the second panel of the north wall in Jueyuan Temple’s Great Hero Hall. Ananda, a cousin of the Buddha and one of his Ten Great Disciples, served as the Buddha’s attendant for more than 20 years. Selected during the First Buddhist Council to recite the Buddha’s teachings from memory, Ananda played an important role in the transmission of the Dharma. According to the Vatsa Sutra, when the Buddha was ill with an intestinal problem, he told Ananda to go ask a brahmin for milk. The brahmin, who did not believe in the Buddha or his teachings, told Ananda to milk his most violent cow. Suddenly, Sakra descended from Trayastrimsa Heaven and incarnated as a boy. He recited a poem containing the name of the Buddha, causing the fierce cow to become tame and joyfully yield the milk. The brahmin, convinced by what he saw, developed faith in the Dharma.
In the mural, the youthful incarnation of Sakra kneels and uses a bowl to collect milk from a cow with upturned eyes. On the left, Ananda appears as a middle-aged monk wearing a patched monastic robe. The slightly smaller figure of the Brahmin stands on the right behind the cow and joins his palms respectfully. The scene takes place in an open field surrounded by rocks and trees. A four-character inscription above a calf on the right identifies the story being portrayed. The figures have detailed facial features, depicted with fine lines, and their clothing is highlighted with gold.