Lalitavistara is a biography of Gautama Buddha. On Borobudur's reliefs, the story starts from the glorious descent of the Buddha from the Tushita heaven, and ends with his first sermon in the Deer Park near Benares.[13] The relief shows the birth of the Buddha as Prince Siddhārtha, son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya of Kapilavastu (in present-day Nepal). The life of the Buddha reliefs cover the upper half of the main wall around the first gall...
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Lalitavistara is a biography of Gautama Buddha. On Borobudur's reliefs, the story starts from the glorious descent of the Buddha from the Tushita heaven, and ends with his first sermon in the Deer Park near Benares.[13] The relief shows the birth of the Buddha as Prince Siddhārtha, son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya of Kapilavastu (in present-day Nepal). The life of the Buddha reliefs cover the upper half of the main wall around the first gallery of the monument. There are a total of 120 panels. The reliefs were carved to illustrate the text known as the "Lalitavistara Sutra" (The Unfolding of the Play). This title refers to the idea that the Buddha’s last incarnation was a performance intentionally given to enlighten mankind. The panels on the first gallery are some of the best-preserved reliefs on the monument.
The Buddha lives among the clouds above Indra’s palace on the peak of Mt. Sumeru. The future Buddha tells the gods he has decided to be reborn on earth. Around his waist...
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