Avadana Painting #9 containing stories 34-38. From a set of 22 tangkas and 108 stories.

(34) The Nagas Nanda and Upananda, Maudgalyayana subdues two troublesome nagas.
(35) The Householder Sudatta, several stories about the virtue of pure generosity.
(36) Ghosila, The Honest official, further stories about the virtue of gift giving.
(37) Purna's Power of Virtue, an illigitimate child grows up, renounces worldly life, becomes a monk and then an arhat.
(38) Mukapangu, The Idiot Cripple, a prince is faced with many difficulties while trying to become a monk.

The Avadana paintings were conceived and sponsored by Situ Panchen Chokyi Jungne (1700-1774). From the first set of paintings numerous copies were later made.

[Story names from Leaves of the Heaven Tree, the Great Compassion of the Buddha by Padma Chopel, 19th century. (Based on the Bodhisattvavadanakalpata of Kshemendra, 11th century). Translated by Deborah Black. Berkeley: Dharma Publishing, 1997.]

Jeff Watt 4-2000