Jain Journal 1977 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 15

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and touching bronze of a monkey with an offering" had been discovered at Saqqara in Egypt during excavations conducted at the site by Prof. W. B. Emery a number of years ago. 14 The excavations showed relics of the cult of Imhotep-Asklepios in Saite-Persian and Saite-Ptolemaic epochs from 6th century B.C. down to the era of Roman conquest. Both the sculptures at Sanchi and Saqqara visualise a comparable devotion and a respectful poise. The intimate faith conveyed by the motif at Sanchi has its fount in the deep respect for the transcendental in the world of pervading knowledge and Truth so familiar in the cultural landscape of India from time immemorial. It is difficult to presume whether the simian devotee at Saqqara belongs to Thoth or depicts the legend of Honey-offering to Buddha. Regular trade between India and Egypt was well-established in the age of the Ptolemys. According to the opinion of Sir Flinders Petrie "Buddhism and Buddhist festivals had already reached the shores of Egypt" in the Ptolemaic period.15 His view is not only based on Indian figures found at Memphis but also on an epigraph from the Thebaid which contains the name of the dedicator "Sophon the Indian".16 If the statuary unearthed within the precincts of the shrine dedicated to Imhotep-Asklepios, the god of Medicine and benign treatment of the afflicted, does represent the monkey offering honey to Buddha, which is most likely, it may recall the provision of medical treatment of men and animals made in the realm of Antiyaka (probably Antiochos II of Syria) and in its neighbouring countries by Asoka whose Buddhist predilection is well-known. The Rock Edict XIII clearly states that the Dharma of of Asoka was propagated in foreign countries including the realm of Tulamaya identified as Egypt probably under Ptolemy Philadelphos. On a comparable emotional plane the Saqqara bronze portrays the devotion of a monkey who understands the glory of the Emancipated. Herein perhaps also lies the significance of Abhinandana's association with a monkey. The singular story of the offering of honey to Buddha has also found place in the art of Gandhara. In this connection, it may be recalled that even the 500 Pratyeka Buddhas of Urumanda also received offerings from Upagupta when he was born as a monkey in his previous existence. The story of offering of honey by a monkey living in a forest with a horde
JAIN JOURNAL
14 The Illustrated London News, August 5, 1967, pp. 25-27, fig. 15.
15 H. C. Ray Chaudhuri: Political History of Ancient India, 4th edition, p. 520. Mahaffy: A History of Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty. 16 Ibid.
17 D. H. Gordon: The Prehistoric Background of Indian Culture, Bombay 1960. A primitive nation who carved a kingdom in China after arriving from regions along the upper reaches of the Yellow river at the end of the T'ang period also claimed descent from monkeys. Vide, Sachindranath Chattopadhyay: MahaChiner Itikatha (in Bengali), p. 248.