134 
L. A. Waddell —Buddhist Pictorial Wheel of Life. [No. 3, 
Its objects. 
There are three forms of this pictorial wheel current in Tibet, viz., 
(1st) the complete form showing all of the 5 
Its forms. or 6 regions of re-birth ; (2nd) the form devoted 
solely to the human and animal form of existence, and (3rd) the variety 
devoted to existence in the various hells. The 1st is by far the most 
common in Tibet, and is here exhibited, vide Plate VIII. The 2nd form 
is that which is depicted in the Ajanta Cave. All agree in being con¬ 
structed in the form of a disc held in the teeth and clutches of a 
monster ; and displaying in compartments around the margin of the 
disc, in symbolic form, the twelve recognized Causes of Re-birth—the 
Niddna —and usually in the centre of the disc the three Original Sins. 
The avowed object of this picture is to present the causes of re-birth 
in so vivid a form that they can be readily per¬ 
ceived and overcome ; while the realistic pic¬ 
tures of the evils of existence in its varied forms and the tortures 
of the damned are intended to intimidate evil-doers. The value of this 
picture for teaching purposes is fully utilized by the Lamas. It is 
placed in a conspicuous position, usually in the vestibule,* and is occa¬ 
sionally, as at Samye, 10 to 15 feet in diameter. Its strange objects 
and varied scenes strongly excite the curiosity of the junior monks and 
the laity, whose inquisitiveness is only to be satisfied, or whetted, by a 
short explanatory sermon. And so great is the belief in the power for 
good of this picture that Tibetan artists eagerly compete for the 
execution of so meritorious a work. 
Before examining the details of the Ajanta picture it is desirable 
to study the more complete pictorial cycle as 
now found in modern Lamaism and here exhi¬ 
bited to the Society, vide plate VIII. And 
first of all as to the history of this latter form of the picture. 
The picture, in its present form, is said to have been brought to 
Tibet from India. According to the Chronicles 
of the first Dalai Lama, a Sid-pa-i Khor-lo in 
‘the old style* was painted in the Samye Temple by the Indian 
Buddhist Monk Bande Ye-slie in the 8th century A. D. And a slightly 
different version called ‘ the new style ’ was brought to Tibet by the 
great Indian Pandit Atisa, or as he is properly called Dipankara STi 
Jnana about the middle of the lltli century A. D. Buddha himself is 
reported to have been the author of the original figure which, in order 
to illustrate his oft repeated dogma of the Causes of Existence, ( Bhava ), 
he drew in diagrammatic form with grains of rice from a stalk-in-ear 
Its form in 
ism. 
Lama- 
Its History. 
* And usually on the left side as at Ajanta. 
