In the Theravadin Buddhist tradition, it is generally accepted that, after achieving enlightenment in the shade of the Bodhi tree and before being invited by the Great Brahma God Sahampati to preach to the world, the Lord Buddha Gotama remained in retreat for a period of seven weeks at or near the Bodhi tree to consider the supreme knowledge he had just attained through his enlightenment. During the first week, he meditated on his throne in the shade of the Bodhi tree on its eastern side. At the beginning of the second week he performed the twin miracle (yamaka-pāṭihāriya) to declare his Buddhahood to doubting devas and stood all through that week at a spot northeast of the Bodhi tree, paying his respects to the tree by keeping his eyes fixed on his throne of enlightenment underneath it. That particular place was thus named Animisa Cetiya. The Buddha spent his third week walking to and fro on the jewel-walk, Ratanacańkama, stretching from east to west between Animisa Cetiya and the Bodhi tree. In the fourth week, he stayed at the jewel-house, Ratanaghara, created by the gods, at a spot north-west of the Bodhi tree, concentrating his mind on the Abhidhamma pitaka. He stayed during the fifth week at the foot of the banyan tree, Ajapala-nigrodha, where Mara's daughters, Tanhã, Ragā, and Arati, tried in vain to tempt him. During heavy rain and a strong wind in the sixth week, the Buddha was given shelter and comforted by the Näga king Mucalinda, who wound his coils seven times around the Great Lord's body and spread his hood over the Lord's head. The Blessed One spent his last week of meditation retreat in the shade of the Rajayatana tree. Two merchants, Tapussa and Bhallika, offered him a cooked meal of wheat and honey, which he accepted in a bowl provided by the Four Regent Gods. After this donation, the two merchants became the Buddha's first lay male disciples (upāsakas).
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Introduction 377 The "Seven Stations" in the Arts of Pagan 380 Iconographic Variation in the Scenes of the Seven Stations in Some Late Pagan Murals 393 Acknowledgements 397
