Sarvaṃdadavadāna (Sibi Jātaka)

[Full title: Jātakas and Avadānas in the Amarāvatī Art: Sarvaṃdada-avadāna (Sibi Jātaka)]

Story:-

From the story it is gathered that in the prosperous city of Sarvavati, there lived a generous king named Sarvaṃdada. One day when he was with his councillors, a frightened dove flew in his lap. God Śakra in disguise of a hunter asked for the return of the bird. The king in exchange of the bird offered his own flesh twice equal the weight of the bird. The king had taken a piece of his own flesh and placed it on one pan and the bird on the other. But the king’s flesh not being sufficient he asked cruel Kapilapiṅgala to bring the scale to him. He placed himself on the scale to equalize the balance. At this point the cruel butcher asked the reason for sacrificing his life. The king replied that it was for nothing but gaining supreme knowledge that would relieve all creatures from suffering. When the king ascended the scales for sacrificing his body, the earth treambled. God Śakra appeared in real form and blessed the king^[1].

According to Avadāna Kalpalatā of Kshemendra the story is centred round the hunter and the king. The sculptors have chosen the narration of Kshemendra in decorating the Amarāvatī panels^[2]. The sculptures at Amarāvatī contain only the depictions of the hunter, dove and king Sibi.

Depiction:-

There are several panels in the British Museum depicting the illustration of king Sibi. In a depiction on a railing pillar one can see the depiction of the king who offers his flesh against the weight of the bird. One can see the king sitting on the throne with the bird on his lap. Next to it is the king cutting flesh from the thigh^[3].

A drum frieze panel illustrate the Sibi jātaka. In this panel the king sits on high backed throne surrounded by courtiers. He is probably holding a bird in his left hand. At the right stands a male holding a set of scales to weigh the king’s flesh against the weight of the dove. At the foot of the throne is a figure cutting flesh from his left leg with a sword^[4].

Another mutilated limestone roundel of Amarāvatī exhibited in the Madras Government Museum shows the king Sibi seated on a throne surrounded by courtiers, chowri bearers and palace guards. The pigeon in his lap is shown covered by his hand as if the king assured its protection from the hunter. The person kneeling down appears to be the hunter requesting the king for the release of the bird. The king is agreeing to offer equivalent weight of human flesh in exchange^[5].

A limestone panel from Amarāvatī Archaeological Museum shows the king cutting his flesh from his thigh. The attendents kneeling down in anjali mudrā are shown with astonishing look^[6]. (Pl 13c).

The depiction of Sarvaṃdadavadāna is found in some reliefs from Nāgārjunakoṇḍa (Pl 13d) and Gummādidurru.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Burlingame Eugene. Watson, 1991, Buddhist Parables, Delhi, pp 314-324.

[2]:

Subrahmanyam B, Op.cit, p 160.

[3]:

Knox Robert, 1992, Amaravati, Buddhist Sculpture from the Great Stūpa, London, pp 63-64, pl 13 (Inner face)

[4]:

Ibid, p 115-116, pl 56.

[5]:

Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 228-230, pl XXVIII 1.

[6]:

Acc No. 52, Limestone, Measurement 51 x 57 x 11 cm, Archaeological Museum, Amaravati, Archaeological Survey of India,