Buddha Shaves His Hair

He thought, "These locks of mine are not suited to a monk; but there is no one to cut the hair of a future Buddha. Therefore I will cut them off myself with my sword." And grasping a scimitar with his right hand, he seized his top-knot with his left hand, and cut it off, together with his jewelled turban. His hair thus became two finger-breadths in length, and curling to the right, lay close to his head. As long as he lived it remained of that length.

Seizing hold of his top-knot and diadem, he threw them into the air, saying: "If I am to become a Buddha, let them stay in the sky; but if not, let them fall to the ground."

The top-knot and the turban rose into the air for a distance of one league before Vasava (corresponding to the Indra), the chief of gods, perceiving them with his divine eyes, received them in an appropriate jewelled casket, and established them in heaven.

"His hair he cut, so sweet with many pleasant scents,
This Chief of men, and high impelled it towards the sky;
And there god Vasava, the god with a thousand eyes,
In golden casket caught it, bowing low his head."

Also represented in this painting are various episodes from Buddha's life. At the right most corner can be seen the temptation of Buddha by Mara. At the bottom left corner is the episode from Buddha's life when while wandering in his search for Truth, he was offered a nourishing bowl of milk by the daughter of a herdsman,

This thangka was made in Nepal.

----------------------------------------------------------------

This description by Nitin Kumar, Executive Editor, Exotic India.

References:

Beer, Robert. The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1999.

Getty, Alice. The Gods of Northern Buddhism. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1978.

Lipton, Barbara, and Ragnubs, Nima Dorjee. Treasures of Tibetan Art: Collection of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Los Angeles: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1990.

Rhie, Marylin M. & Thurman, Robert A.F. Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet. London: Thames and Hudson, 1996.

Of Related Interest:

Mudras of the Great Buddha: Symbolic Gestures and Postures (Article)

Buddha in the Varada Mudra (Sterling Silver Box Pendant)

Gautam Buddha (Handcrafted Sterling Silver Finger-Ring)

Buddha Seated on The Six-Ornament Throne of Enlightenment (Tibetan Thangka Painting)

The Temptation Of Buddha (Batik Painting)

Buddha (Silk Painting)

Transcendent Buddha (Kalamkari Painting)

Buddha Shakyamuni (Copper Sculpture gilted with 24 Karat Gold)

Buddha, the Universal Teacher (Brass Statue)

Emaciated Buddha (Grey Stone Sculpture)

Meditating Buddha (Wood Sculpture)

Four Headed Buddha Bust (Green Stone)