TIBET, 14TH CENTURY

The scenes from Buddha's life begin at top right and proceed in a clockwise fashion around the central figure. They include Tushita Heaven, the Request to Descend, Queen Maya's Dream, the Birth, the Prophecies, the Wrestling, Archery and Swimming Contests and Life at the Palace (right column). They continue with Prince Siddharth leaving the palace, then removing his princely ornaments and cutting his hair (bottom row, right to left). At the top is the Buddha's death, Parinirvana, and his cremation. The central image of Buddha is flanked by his bodhisattvas Maitreya and Manjushri as he wards off the Armies of Mara, shown in the upper corners, with his meditation. Below the lion throne are Mara's daughters shown as beautiful women, and again as old hags with Mara seated, right. At left the scenes continue, including the First Sermon at the Deer Park, the Monkey's Gift of Honey, the Taming of Nalagiri and the Descent from Trayastrimsha. At top is the Parinirvana and then his Cremation flanking either side of center. Compare with another of the same subject in this sale, lot 263.