Among the existent images in Buddhist arts from period of the Northern Dynasties to Early Tang,there are more than 50 pairs of images flanking Buddha s throne whose hand holding a bird and a skull respectively.The one holding a skull has been identified as Mrgasirsa,while the other has a bird in his hand is commonly known as Vasistha,but there are some doubts about the figure.This paper suggests that the figure probable is the one naked and heretics Nirgrantha-putra rather than Vasistha.The conclusion was made based on Buddhist textual research, as No tice on Abhidharmakosasastra. Nirgranthaputra, according to the text, the o ne held a bird was asking Buddha quest ion about life and death, Buddha responded with silence while Mrgasirsa held the skull was wondering how to determine the Karma and transmigration of the arhats, Buddha answered his quest ion. This description answering to the profundity of Buddha's wisdom and law, thus was adopted and represented in Buddhist arts extensively.
