Once the Buddha Was a Monkey

Once the Buddha Was a Monkey
Author: Āryaśūra
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2006-09-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0226782158

Here is one of the most entertaining masterpieces of Sanskrit literature rendered in an English translation that fully captures the original's artistry and charm. Written most probably in the fourth century A.D., the Jatakamala is generally considered the masterpiece of Buddhist literature in Sanskrit. In elegant, courtly style, Arya Sura retells thirty-four traditional stories about the Buddha in his previous incarnations, human and animal. Whether as a king, a brahmin, a monkey, or a hare, the Great One is shown in assiduous pursuit of virtue and compassion. Though primarily intended as exemplary tales illustrating the Buddhist virtues, these stories also provide a vivid picture of life at a high point in ancient Indian culture—city life in ordinary households or at the royal court, and country life against a backdrop of mountain, desert, and jungle. Fresh study of the Sanskrit manuscripts, now scattered in libraries all over the world, has enabled Peter Khoroche to make this new translation faithful to the original in both style and content. His explanatory notes will assist student and general reader alike in appreciating this classic from an ancient and exotic civilization. “The general reader will be highly grateful for this new translation which, besides being beautifully printed, is rounded off with a very informative and reliable introduction.”—Renate Söhnen-Thieme, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies “One would be a fool not to welcome the chance to read this book.”—Richard Gombrich, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society

बोधिसत्त्वावदानमालापरपर्याया जातकमाला

बोधिसत्त्वावदानमालापरपर्याया जातकमाला
Author: आर्यशूर
Publisher:
Total Pages: 656
Release: 2007
Genre:
ISBN:

The Jatakamala of Aryasura, also known as Bodhisattvavadanamala is a 3rd-4th cent. AD collection of thirty four Jataka tales of the Sanskrit tradition, narrated in the form of a campukavya. Due to its unique place in the Buddhist narrative literature and its literary qualities, this text has gone through quite a few editions and translations.Of all the editions of the Jatakamala so far published the present bilingual one is by far the best. The text published in this edition has been reconstructed primarily on the basis of two earlier editions - one by Hendrik Kern and the other by P.L. Vaidya. While editing the text variants noted by Kern and emendations suggested by Vaidya have been taken into consideration. In addition, the readings adopted by the anonymous commentary and the suggestions of the translator, J.S. Speyer, have also helped the finalization of the text. The text has been printed elegantly on a Devanagari font, specially developed for the series. J.S. Speyer s faithful and lucid translation has been printed on facing pages. Necessary alterations in the language have been made to conform to the modern idiom. The transliteration of Sanskrit words has been standardized according to the latest system internationally accepted.The learned editor, Pandit Satakari Mukhopadhyaya, has augmented the edition with an informative and exhaustive introduction of nineteen pages, which traces the entire history of the origin and development of the Jataka stories in Pali and Sanskrit and also furnishes latest information about the Jataka Literature. A new index of verses has been appended which will prove useful to the readers.Aryasura s Jatakamala narrates the pious and super-human deeds of Bodhisattvas former existences of the Buddha. The Jatakamala is an excellent campukavya (poetry in prose and verse). The thirty-four stories, as contained in the Jatakamala are intended to illustrate the six paramitas (perfections), viz. dana (munificence), sila (good conduct), ksanti (forbearance), virya (courage), dhyana (meditation) and prajna (wisdom).The style of the author of the Jatakamala is classical and his language is chaste Paninian Sanskrit. Aryasura s complete command over the art of poetry both in prose and verse has been amply displayed.

A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850

A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850
Author: Sujit Mukherjee
Publisher: Orient Blackswan
Total Pages: 464
Release: 1998
Genre: Indic literature
ISBN: 9788125014539

This Volume Aspires To Be A Handy Reference Work For Users Whose Interest Is Not Limited To One Or Two Indian Language Literatures But Spreads Over Sanskrit, Tamil, Pali And The Prakrit As Well As To Asimiya, Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Sindhi, Telugu And Urdu. Starting With The Vedas And The Upanishads, The Coverage Spans Several Centuries Up To The Year 1850.

Jatakamala

Jatakamala
Author:
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 488
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN: 9781983457104

The Jatakamala or Garland of Birth Stories by Aryasura retells in Classical Sanskrit 34 of the Buddha's previous lives, illustrating the virtues he pursued during the time he was striving in previous births before attaining Awakening. The text was beautifully translated by the Dutch scholar J S Speyer and published in 1895 as the first book in the Sacred Books of the Buddhists series. The "Garland of Birth-stories" belongs to the Canon of the Northern Buddhists. An English translation of this famous collection of Jataka stories, including one not found in the Pali collection (with an embedded reading of the text). The book first published in1895.

Jataka Tales

Jataka Tales
Author: H. T. Francis
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 523
Release: 2014-07-24
Genre: History
ISBN: 1107418518

Originally published in 1916, this book presents a selection from the Jatakas translated into English. The selection was made 'with the purpose of bringing together the Jataka stories of most interest, both intrinsically, and also from the point of view of the folklorist.' Notes and illustrative figures are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the Jataka tales and Indian literature.

THE JATAKAS

THE JATAKAS
Author: Sarah Shaw
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 495
Release: 2006-06-08
Genre: Art
ISBN: 818475034X

When my concentrated mind was purified; I directed it to the knowledge of the recollection of past lives’ —The Buddha on the night of his enlightenment Associated with the living traditions of folk tale; drama and epic; the Jatakas recount the development of the Bodhisatta—the being destined to become the present Buddha in his final life—not just through the events of one lifetime but of hundreds. Written in Pali; the language of the Theravada Buddhist canon; the Jatakas comprise one of the largest and oldest collections of stories in the world dating from the fifth century BCE to the third century CE. Generations in South and South-East Asia have grown up with these tales. This volume contains twenty-six stories drawn from various ancient sources; and each story reflects one of the ten perfections—giving; restraint; renunciation; wisdom; strength; acceptance; truthfulness; resolve; loving kindness and equanimity. A detailed introduction elaborates on the ten perfections; explains the forms of enlightenment as well as the structure; and the historical and geographical contexts of the stories. Sarah Shaw brings to life the teachings of Buddhism for the scholar and lay reader alike.

Much More Jataka Tales

Much More Jataka Tales
Author: Rajesh Kavassery
Publisher: Sura Books
Total Pages: 132
Release: 2007
Genre: Jataka stories, English
ISBN: 9788174789570