Episodes in the life of Prince Dri-med-kun-Idan. Distemper painting by a Tibetan painter.
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Episodes in the life of Prince Dri-med-kun-Idan, also known in Tibetan as Thams-cad-sgrol (Saviour of all, literally "Liberating all"), in Sanskrit as Viśvantara, in Pali as Vessantara), prince of charity, who gave away his father's wish-fulfilling gem, his own wife and children and his own eyes (cf. Winder, loc. cit., no. 15; Wellcome Library catalogue no. 47067i). At his birth, soothsayers are shown prophesying these things. In the centre is a Medicine Buddha (Bhaiṣajyaguru) painted in the Mongolian style. He is another form of personified compassion. With his right hand he performs the earth-touching gesture and with his left hand the meditation gesture. His left hand is also holding a bowl containing a bezoar, a concretion from the stomach of a cow, which is used for medicinal purposes. Around are episodes in the life of Viśvantara as described in the Pali Jātakamala (Garland of previous births [of the Buddha])
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