Weathered relief with a seated Buddha at upper left and armed humanlike figures gathered below and at right in an architectural setting.
Photograph of historical narrative relief

Weathered relief with a seated Buddha at upper left and armed humanlike figures gathered below and at right in an architectural setting.

Photograph by Anandajoti Bhikkhu, Conversion of Āḷavaka, Nagarjunakonda Museum, Andhra Pradesh. Photo date2024-12-10 from original EXIF; historic relief artist/date not individually supplied. PhotoDharma, CC BY-SA3.0. · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike3.0 Unported · Image source

The photographer captions this relief as Āḷavaka’s conversion. Individual figures are not further assigned here.

Overview

At Āḷavī, Āḷavaka orders the Buddha repeatedly to leave and re-enter his haunt. The Buddha initially complies but refuses the fourth command. The yakkha then threatens bodily and mental violence if his questions are unanswered.

His questions concern wealth, happiness, suffering, wisdom, friendship and the next life. The answers emphasise conviction, truth, effort, discernment and giving. Āḷavaka ends by recognising the benefit of the visit and promising to travel among settlements honouring the Buddha and his teaching. The selected discourse gives this transformation in conduct without a detailed monster anatomy.

HauntRepeated commandsThreatQuestionsHomage
01

Origins & earliest records

South Asian Buddhist discourse tradition

02

Records & interpretation

Identified primary discourse translation directly read.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Saṃyutta Nikāya 10.12; also Sutta Nipāta 1.10

    Thanissaro Bhikkhu (translator) · 1999

    Modern translated primary discourse; narrative scope retained.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

Saṃyutta Nikāya 10.12; also Sutta Nipāta 1.10

Pali discourse collection. Saṃyutta Nikāya 10.12; also Sutta Nipāta 1.10

Actual translated primary discourse directly read; narrative description remains limited to its stated encounter.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary discourse translationSaṃyutta Nikāya 10.12; also Sutta Nipāta 1.10Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

Photograph of historical narrative relief

Weathered relief with a seated Buddha at upper left and armed humanlike figures gathered below and at right in an architectural setting.

Photograph by Anandajoti Bhikkhu, Conversion of Āḷavaka, Nagarjunakonda Museum, Andhra Pradesh. Photo date2024-12-10 from original EXIF; historic relief artist/date not individually supplied. PhotoDharma, CC BY-SA3.0. · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike3.0 Unported · Image source

The photographer captions this relief as Āḷavaka’s conversion. Individual figures are not further assigned here.

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