The Buddha renounces his old life

The palace wall serves as a symbolic and functional division between Buddha’s life as a prince and his decision to renounce his worldly existence. To the left, inside the walls, the Buddha is born from the side of Māyā and takes the steps. Just below, an older Sākyamuni levitates an elephant. Outside, his first encounter with old age, death, and the mendicant monk are visible here. To the right, he crosses the river Anomā and he shown holding a tree to lay it down as a bridge. Above, he takes the tonsure, cutting off his hair and thus making the symbolic vow to leave behind the life he once knew. He then changes his clothes for those of a hunter.

© Copyright 1998 Jonathan S. Bell