Government of India
Cave 17
- Ṛkṣa
Description :
Story:
There is a group of paintings based on stories of the Bodhisattva as an animal in Cave 17, in the front aisle. In these stories, the animals display compassion and kindness towards humans which is seldom reciprocated.
Story:
A man is stuck in the forest during a storm and seeks shelter in a cave. A bear that lives in the cave keeps the man safe till the storm passes. However, the man betrays the bear's location to a group of hunters and the bear is killed. The betrayer's hands are miraculously severed when he tries to reach out for his share of the meat. The king of the region hears the story and erects a stupa in honour of the bear.
More Paintings
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