Wat Kampong Tralach Leu Main Hall: Vidhurapandita Jataka

CAMBODIA, Kampong Chhnang

The colorful scenes on the upper half of the walls of Wat Kampong Tralach Leu portray stories from the Life of the Buddha, while the illustrations between the windows are mainly Jataka tales. The Vidhurapandita Jataka, Pali Jataka No. 545, tells of one of the Buddha’s previous lives as the wise minister Vidhurapandita. In middle of the upper register, Varuna, the daughter of the Naga King, is shown singing and dancing on the mountains. Enchanted, the yaksa Purnaka approaches from the left. Before he will grant the couple permission to marry, the Naga King asks Purnaka to bring him the heart of Vidhurapandita. On the left side of the upper register, Purnaka attempts to kill Vidhurapandita by forcing him to hold the tail of a galloping horse. Below, Purnaka is shown raising the minister above his head, again attempting to kill him. All of his attempts fail, and Purnaka becomes awed by Vidhurapandita’s wisdom and virtue. In the center of the lower register, Vidhurapandita teaches the Dharma while Purnaka sits and listens piously. On the right, Vidhurapandita is shown within a tall palace, teaching the Naga King and his family. The diverse scenes take place against a background of mountains and trees painted in a rich blend of colors.