Kizil Cave 171: Viryabala Jataka
Kizil Cave 171: Viryabala Jataka
CHINA, Xinjiang, Aksu
This painting is located on the left side of the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the main chamber. According to the “Chapter on Tranquility” in the Dharmapadavadana Sutra, a monk named Viryabala lived and practiced on a mountain where there was a dove, crow, snake, and deer all living around him. One day, Viryabala overheard the animals discussing what caused the most suffering in the world. He then taught them that the root of suffering was the physical body, and that only the pursuit of nirvana can eradicate the root of suffering forever.
This painting depicts the scene where Viryabala, shown in the upper left corner of the painting, teaches the animals the Dharma. He sits cross-legged on a grass cushion and wears a stole over his upper body. The crow, deer, dove, and snake are to his right.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves R-L, page 567.
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 R-L},
pages = 567,
title = {{Kizil Cave 171: Viryabala Jataka}},
volume = 6,
year = {2016}}