Mahajanaka
2005
3 ceramic plates

Mahajanaka, the young man who seeks and takes challenge for his dream. He never gives up due to his destiny.

The cruise along the ocean is comparable to our lives. It cannot be predicted. It is mad, cruel, mysterious, challenging and beautiful. When the ship wrecked, it is difficult to find the way. The only thing that we can do is to ‘keep swimming’ although we cannot see the shore or not even know even there will be one.

In every story the ‘young man’ symbolizes hope. He is the hero that we are familiar with.
Eventually, Mahajanaka met goddess Manee Mekhala who came to help him. It was because of his perseverance and persistence.
Actually, whether it is woman or man, he or she might travel and look for each other in order to rescue each other.
We might be waiting to find another shore that is out of sight. We might realize that there is no hero or heroine.

It is just a journey.

The Story

Prince Mahajanaka took leave of his mother and boarded a ship to trade in the faraway land of Suwannabhumi.
During the voyage there was a great storm that wrecked the ship.
Although couldn’t see the shore, he swam in the ocean for seven days.
The goddess Manimekhala witnessed his plight and tested him with question.

“Who is this swimming for seven days when he cannot even see the shore? Why persevere in swimming?”

“I shall continue to swim until the day I should reach it.”

“The ocean is so vast. No matter how you persevere in swimming you would not reach the shore".
You will certainly die before that.”

“So, I will ever do my best to fight through ocean to the shore.
While strength holds out I still will strive nor yield till I can strive no more.”

Having heard thus, she praised his perseverance and carried him to the shore of the city Mithila.

(The story of the former birth of the Lord Buddha. )