page_title: The Twin Miracle
hierarchical_section_title: The Twin Miracle
caption_attribution_description: English: Buddha performing the Miracle of Sravasti - Gandhara, 2nd/3rd century AD A gray schist sculpture, of 80cm high, depicts Buddha standing on a pedestal with an altar, flanked by seated Buddhas and their attendants. In his left hand Buddha holds the hem of a full-length sanghati, the folds elegantly draped over the body, the face with bow-shaped mouth, almond-shaped eyes, and gently arching brows. The locks of wavy hair secured over the ushnisha and backed by a halo, with the flames miraculously emerging from this shoulders and water from his feet. This representation of Buddha with fire and water emanating from his body is rare, and refers to the first of the series of miracles he performed at Sravasti, a monastery town in ancient India, where he confronted his critics. The Kasyapas, leaders of India's six prevailing philosophical schools, invited Buddha to a contest of miraculous powers expecting they could demonstrate his inferiority. Buddha's miracles, which included, among others, allowing people to read each other's thoughts and spreading a cleansing light throughout the world, resulted in the conversion of the Kasyapas' ninety-thousand followers. The sculpture encapsulates this event, celebrating the virtue of the Buddha's teaching in contrast to the philosophies of the Vedic Kasyapas. (Source: Christie's E-Catalogue Indian and Southeast Asian Art 12.09.2012)
context_page_description: The Twin Miracle, also called the Miracle at Savatthi, or the Miracle at Śrāvastī, is one of the miracles of Gautama Buddha. There are two major versions of the story that vary in some details. The Pali account of the miracle can be found in the Dhammapadattakatha and the Sanskrit version in the Pratiharya-sutra. Buddhists believe it was performed seven years after the Buddha's enlightenment, in the ancient Indian city of Savatthi. According to Buddhist texts, during the miracle the Buddha emitted fire from the top half of his body and water from the bottom half of his body simultaneously, before alternating them and then expanding them to illuminate the cosmos. The miracle was performed during a miracle contest between Gautama Buddha and six rival religious teachers, and is considered one of the Ten Indispensable Acts that all Buddhas are to perform during their lives. The miracle itself is said to have been performed twice, with the Buddha performing it once at his home town of Kapilavastu before performing the main miracle at Savatthi. It is considered to have been Gautama Buddha's greatest miracle and something that can only be performed by fully enlightened Buddhas.
context_section_description: The Twin Miracle, also called the Miracle at Savatthi (Pali), or the Miracle at Śrāvastī (Sanskrit), is one of the miracles of Gautama Buddha. There are two major versions of the story that vary in some details. The Pali account of the miracle can be found in the Dhammapadattakatha and the Sanskrit version in the Pratiharya-sutra. Buddhists believe it was performed seven years after the Buddha's enlightenment, in the ancient Indian city of Savatthi. According to Buddhist texts, during the miracle the Buddha emitted fire from the top half of his body and water from the bottom half of his body simultaneously, before alternating them and then expanding them to illuminate the cosmos. The miracle was performed during a miracle contest between Gautama Buddha and six rival religious teachers, and is considered one of the Ten Indispensable Acts that all Buddhas are to perform during their lives. The miracle itself is said to have been performed twice, with the Buddha performing it once at his home town of Kapilavastu before performing the main miracle at Savatthi. It is considered to have been Gautama Buddha's greatest miracle and something that can only be performed by fully enlightened Buddhas.
caption: The Buddha performs the Twin Miracle, with water pouring from his feet and flames exiting from his shoulders.
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