Rūpānanda learns of the impermanence of beauty

[Full title: Depiction of scenes from the life of Buddha: Rūpānanda learns of the impermanence of beauty]

Story:-

The story is given in the Dhammapada-atthakatha.

Janapadakalyani, also known as Rūpānanda was the wife of Nanda. She saw her nearest kinsmen had become monks. She joined the community of nuns because of her love for her kinsfolk and not because of her faith.

One day she heard that the Master had preached of the impermanence of beauty and fearing that he would find fault with her own form avoided facing him. Once the residents of Śrāvastī dressing themselves in spotless garments went to Jetavana to listen to the Masters preaching. Rūpānanda decided to listen to the Master.

Buddha knew that she was only thinking of her beauty all the time. So by his supernatural power he created a young woman of surpassing beauty who stood beside him. When RūpĀnanda beheld the beauty of this women she realized that she looked like a crow before a royal goose. But when she watched her while listening to the Master’s discourse she saw the young woman of sixteen turn into the woman of twenty, them into a middle aged woman and finally an old woman full of diseases. Soon she became dead and the corpse was torn up. This sight made Rūpānanda realize the ephemeral nature of beauty. She heard the discourse of the Master and attained the fruit of conversion and arhatship^[1].

Depiction:-

A relief on the lower part of a broken rail pillar illustrate the scene. Above the half lotus is a scene representing a number of monks and turbaned noble looking laymen seated and standing all with joined hands in adoration around an empty throne with double cushion signifying the presence of Master. Many nuns are seated to the left^[2]. The lady beside Buddha is RūpĀnanda.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, pp 200-201.

[2]:

Ibid, pp 200-201, pl XXXI, fig 1.