Buddha with attendants and the attack of Mara

The upper portion of this painting shows the standing Buddha flanked by his chief disciples Shariputra and Maudgalyayana. The scene below depicts the story of the Buddha’s victory over Mara, the evil king.The multiarmed Mara, at right riding on his elephant, leads his army of demons to attack the Buddha and prevent him from achieving enlightenment. As the Buddha calls on the earth goddess to witness his accumulated merit, she appears before him and wrings out her hair to bring a flood that destroys Mara’s army. Indra, at left holding lotus blossoms and riding on his white elephant, appears in this scene as bringer of storms, to assist in the victory over Mara.