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JANUARY, 1977
Watters. According to the story Buddha once told that Upagupta was previously born as a monkey (or ape) and later on being chief of a troop of monkeys at Urumanda "made offerings and showed much kindness to 500 Pratyeka Buddhas who were living on another part of Urumanda. The merit of his conduct to those worthies brought the monkey birth as a human being in his next existence, and in it, as the bhiksu Upagupta, he rose to be a most successful preacher, a peerless saint, and a Buddha in all but the bodily signs."11 As regards the story of the offering of honey to Buddha Watters has noted that "Markata was the name of a man, a Vrijjian or Vajji-putta."12
The incident of Honey offering located at Sravasti or Vaisali or Mathura has been visualised in the relief of the right pillar of the North Gateway of Stupa I at Sanchi. "The monkey first appears with the bowl as offering the honey and then with empty hand after the offering has
been made."13 Here it is extremely interesting to note that a "pleasant
11
Stupa I, North Gateway, Right
Pillar, Sanchi c. 1st Cen. B.C.
Bronze, Saqqara, Egypt
Both the sculptures visualise a comparable devotion and a respectful poise
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid., Vol. II p. 66.
13 Ibid., pp. 59-60.
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