The Talkative Tortoise

There is a very famous story from the Jataka tales about a talkative tortoise who fell to its death when he opened his mouth to talk in mid-flight.

The story is known as Kacchapa Jataka (No 215). It has been the material for many Buddhist art work. While looking through my photos, I happening to notice this story being depicted in two different ancient temples oceans apart.

They are here for the interested reader.

This is a panel from Temple no. 2 in the Nalanda ruins in India. 

This is the carving on the stairways of the Mendut temple in Indonesia, which is located just outside the Borobodur temple.

A close-up of the flying tortoise.

For the full story, check out this link.