Three Avadana Legends

This painting from a famous set designed by Situ Panchen (1700-1774) reinvents the traditional visual narrative depictions of the stories of noble deeds, or avadanas. The sweeping empty landscape serves as a stage for three separate stories. The stories are morality tales that teach about the infallible laws of cause and effect (karma), merit, and the benefits of giving and care for others. The first story is about a king whose great merit made him the universal ruler, sharing the power with the king of the gods. When his merit was exhausted, his self-serving thoughts brought him down. The second story is about a king who gave away his head for the sake of all. The third is about a seafarer who promised to fulfill the wishes of everyone and traveled far in order to fulfill his promise.