Railing pillar medallion with Mugapakkha-jataka
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.This medallion is the earliest known representation of the Mugapakkha-jataka, one of the jataka tales of the Buddha’s past lives. It tells of a prince (the Buddha in disguise) who, in recollection of his compassionless deeds in a past life, takes a vow of silence from birth. Believing him an omen of disaster, his father instructs that he be killed, but the king's charioteer, seen here, recognizes his true nature as a future Buddha. He is spared, and his parents then venerate him, shown at upper right. Closely analogous to the Buddha’s own life story, this powerful tale honors the selfless casting aside of worldly attachments and social position as the first step on the pathway to spiritual awakening
Artwork Details
- Title: Railing pillar medallion with Mugapakkha-jataka
- Period: Shunga
- Date: ca. 150–100 BCE
- Culture: India, Bharhut Great Stupa, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh
- Medium: Sandstone
- Dimensions: H. 24 13/16 in. (63 cm); W. 22 1/16 in. (56 cm); D. 6 5/16 in. (16 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Lent by Indian Museum, Kolkata
- Rights and Reproduction: Photo by Theirry Ollivier
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art