Divyavadana

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Divyavadana, Devine Deeds (Avadana) is a Sarvastivadin anthology consisting 38 legends including emperor Asoka.

"Later traditions represent the Buddha himself as having not merely sanctioned but actually instituted the use of anthropomorphic images. Thus, according to the Divyâvadana, p. 547, Rudrâyana (sc. Udrâyana) desires a means of making offerings to the Buddha when he is absent; the Blessed One said "Have an image of Tathagata drawn on canvas, and make your offering thereto" [Sanskrit]. Rudrâyana calls his painters (cittakara). They say they cannot grasp the Blessed One's exemplum [Sanskrit]. The Blessed One says that is because they are affected by lassitude [Sanskrit], but "bring me a piece of canvas"." Then the Blessed One projected his similtude onto it [Sanskrit] and said "complete it with colors" [Sanskrit], adding that certain texts are to be written [Sanskrit] below."

Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, ELEMENTS OF BUDDHIST ICONOGRAPHY, Harvard, 1935; p. 6.

[edit] References

Fables in the Vinaya-Pitaka of the Sarvastivad in School by Jean Przyluski, "The Indian Historical Quarterly", Vol.V, No.1, 1929.03