Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c38.3

c38.3

The lower panel in two scenes shows us the arrival of Vessantara and Madrī Dēvī and the two children at the hermitages prepared for them by Viśvakarma at Śakra’s order at Vaṅgiriya. On the left is the mountain Vipula, by the foot of which they passed, and next the river Ketumatī where they rested and ate and bathed and drank before proceeding further. The trees represent thick forest, through which they passed until they came to the ‘four-square lake.’ Then Vessantara, seeing a path, knew that it led to a hermitage, and going in front of the others, found indeed the pansala prepared, he entered, “and putting off his bow and sword, with the garments which he wore, he donned the garb of a hermit, and coming forth entered the covered walk and paced up and down and . . . approached his wife and children. Madrī fell at his feet in tears; then with him entering the hermitage, she went to her own cell and donned the ascetic dress.” This is the second scene, shown on the right hand of the lower picture.