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Ajanta Cave 10: Saddanta Jataka
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Ajanta Cave 10: Saddanta Jataka
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Ajanta Cave 10: Saddanta Jataka
INDIA, Maharashtra, Aurangabad; circa mid-to-late 5th century
This mural is located on the right wall. The story describes the events of a past life of Sakyamuni Buddha as a six-tusked elephant king named Saddanta. The elephant king had many wives, one of whom was stricken with jealousy and resentment towards her husband. After she died, she was reborn as a human queen who continued to hold a grudge and ordered the elephant king killed.
The painting is approximately 11 m across and is composed of ten scenes which depict the story by locality, as opposed to chronologically. In the final scene, the hunter displays the elephant’s tusks to the queen, whereupon the queen collapses and dies. The mural has endured severe damage and color deterioration but some details are still discernible. |
