Illustrated Manuscript of the Phra Malai Sutra

THAILAND

An inscription dates this manuscript to 1844, which makes it especially precious, as Thai manuscripts created before 1850 were rarely illustrated. The scripture describes how meditation enabled the monk Phra Malai to journey to heaven and hell. After returning to the human world, he told others of the torments he witnessed in hell and reminded them of the law of cause and effect. In the 19th century, many illustrated manuscripts of this scripture were produced in Thailand.
This portrayal of hell is divided by trees into three sections. On the right, Phra Malai flies over two skeletal beings with their arms raised and palms joined. The beings appear to be begging the monk to warn their families back in the human realm of the fate that awaits those who commit wrongdoings. In the central scene, a man is thrown into a boiling cauldron fueled by a burning body. Below the cauldron, a sick man lying on the ground is attacked by a ferocious dog. On the left, a hell guardian and a dog force two men to climb a tree of swords, while an iron eagle in the tree pecks at one of the men. The illustration serves to warn viewers of the karmic consequences of evil deeds.