Ajanta: The Colour and Monochrome Reproductions of the Ajanta Frescoes Based on Photography v3.c12.s44.4

v3.c12.s44.4

¹ A summary of the story based on Rhys Davids and Oldenberg’s translation is given here: Devadatta, the envious and wicked cousin of Gautama, possessed certain influence over Ajātaśatru, the king of Rājagriha. With the help of the latter Devadatta made several attempts to kill the Buddha, but they all proved unsuccessful. In one of these attempts he asked the elephant-keepers of the royal stables to let loose the furious elephant Nālāgiri when the Buddha passed with his disciples through the streets of Rājagriha. As Devadatta held out promises of high promotion in their ranks, the elephant-keepers agreed to unchain Nālāgiri at the time of the Buddha’s visit. On the following day when the Master entered the city, his disciples noticed the furious elephant rushing towards them, and being seized with fright they entreated the Buddha to quit the city. The Great Being, however, retained his calm, and when Nālāgiri, after having caused great panic in the street, approached him, he exercised such an influence on the animal that instead of doing any harm it prostrated itself before the Master. The latter stroked its head kindly and admonished it to behave in such a manner as to attain eternal bliss. *Vinaya Texts, Sacred Books of the East*, vol. xx, pp. 247–50.