Wat Bakong Main Hall: Life of the Buddha - Monkey and Elephant Making Offerings

CAMBODIA, Siem Reap

Painted on the north wall of the main hall of the Wat Bakong in Siem Reap, this mural depicts a story from the Life of the Buddha. After the Buddha came to Kausambi with his disciples, the Buddha traveled alone into the Parileyyaka forest where he received offerings from an elephant and a monkey. The Buddha then gave a teaching to the animals.
The Buddha sits in full lotus position and forms the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. He wears an orange monastic robe; a bright nimbus surrounds his head. On the right, an elephant crouches on the ground and holds a bamboo pot with its trunk. On the left, a kneeling monkey offers a pot of honey.