Illustrated Manuscript Covers - Jataka Tales

SRI LANKA

These wooden manuscript covers from Sri Lanka are decorated with narrative paintings. Each cover measures 7 cm by 41 cm. These two jatakas highlight the benefit of giving and the consequence of sexual desire. The figures were painted in green and yellow against a red background. The simplicity and continuity of the scenes make for a lively narration.
The upper painting is based on Pali Jataka No. 40, the Khadirangara Jataka. Moving from left to right, the images tell the story of the Buddha in one of his previous lives as a prosperous merchant. After learning that the Pratyekabuddha had finished meditating for seven days and was receiving alms, the wealthy merchant, depicted with a beard and a green dhoti, decided to make a food offering. Evil Mara, shown with a golden crown, knew that the Pratyekabuddha would die if he was not fed, and so blocked the merchant’s way with an acacia-wood fire. The merchant was undeterred, and walked through the flames. Lotuses arose to protect his feet. The Pratyekabuddha received the offering and taught the Dharma in appreciation before flying away to the Himalayas to resume his meditation. The rippling folds on the monastic robe of the Pratyekabuddha are typical of Sri Lankan Buddhist images.
The lower painting is of Jataka No. 436, the Kunala Jataka. On the left, a green-skinned demon is shown carrying off a noblewoman. The demon fell in love with the woman, and made her his wife. To keep her safe and chaste, he put her in a basket and swallowed it. One day, the demon let out the basket as he bathed in a river. The woman managed to entice a passing magician into joining her in the basket, which the demon returned to his belly, unaware. The magician planned to kill the demon, but an ascetic told the demon what was going on inside him. Realizing that he could not possess the noblewoman with such jealousy, the demon brought the basket back up and let the two go. In the illustration, the ascetic, who was the Buddha in one of his previous lives, is portrayed with a beard and a high topknot, and the demon is a fearsome green beast.