Vessantara Jataka

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Time Period
C. 2nd Century BCE, Sunga

Location found
Bharhut, Satna, Madhya Pradesh

Dimension
H: 42, W: 9, L: 66 cm

Material
Sandstone

Number Assigned
Accession No. 421 – 422
Indian Museum, Kolkata, West Bengal

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This coping stone fragment depicts the Vessantara Jātaka, illustrating the Bodhisattva’s supreme virtue of generosity (dāna). Born as Prince Vessantara, he donates his rain-bringing white elephant Peccaya to a Brāhmaṇa from Kaliṅga, symbolizing selfless giving. The panel shows the prince offering the elephant with ritual pouring of water. The panel depicts this moment of offering, symbolizing the Bodhisattva’s boundless compassion and ultimate renunciation leading toward Buddhahood.

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