Story of Four Friends
In this tale derived from the Tittira Jataka, four friends, a bird, a rabbit, a monkey and an elephant, live below a banyan tree. There had been a decline in their respect for each other, and in order to decide which amongst them is the most senior, they begin to discuss the age of the tree. The elephant recalls that, when he was a baby, the tree was as small as a bush. The monkey recalls it was a mere shrub when he was young. The rabbit describes the tree as having been a leafless sapling. Finally, the bird comments that he had swallowed the seed, and that the tree had grown from his droppings. Thereby, the bird was honoured as the eldest, senior in rank to the rabbit, the monkey and the elephant. This restored harmony to the animal kingdom. It is said that the Buddha used this story to decree that age would confer priority in the sangha (religious community). The image of the Four Friends can be found painted on buildings, in small wood carvings and on calendars. Occasionally, the image shows the Four Friends standing on each other’s backs, in order to pick the fruit of the banyan tree. Here the image refers to the equally important moral of mutual co-operation.