Mogao Cave 295: Illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Sui dynasty

Located on the west slope of the gabled ceiling, this mural depicts the Buddha passing into parinirvana. Twin sala trees form a canopy of leaves over the grieving party, with one tree on each side. Above the trees are two apsaras with outstretched arms. Sakyamuni Buddha lies on his right side and rests his head on a pilow. The Buddha’s left hand rests along his side and both legs are aligned, one atop the other. His head is surrounded by a dark nimbus.
Behind the Buddha is a row of Bodhisattvas, monks, and lay disciples with raised arms and grief-stricken expressions. The Buddha’s mother, Queen Maya, is shown on the left, wearing a crown and a red robe. She leans forward on a lotus seat, and her feet rest on a lotus pedestal. In front of her is a small naga that devours wish-fulfilling jewels, representing one of the five nightmares of Queen Maya. To the right of the naga, Guhyapadavajra lies on the ground, and on the far right, Subhadra, wearing a robe with a hood, is engulfed in flames. According to the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, Subhadra chose to self-immolate rather than witness the Buddha’s passing. Above Subhadra, Mahakasyapa grasps the Buddha’s feet and cries out in anguish. Behind Mahakasyapa is a bearded man who stands barefoot on a lotus platform. With clenched fists and a sneer on his face, he gloats over the Buddha’s passing. The figures all remain distinctive despite the deterioration of the mural over time.