Difference between revisions of "Avadanas"
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− | [[Avadāna]]; ([[Sanskrit]]; [[Pali]] [[cognate]]: [[Apadāna]]) is the [[name]] given to a type of [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|literature}} correlating past [[lives]]' [[virtuous]] [[deeds]] to subsequent [[lives]]' events. While including accounts from the [[Pali]] [[Vinaya Pitaka]] ("[[Basket]] of [[Discipline]]"), this {{Wiki|literature}} also includes a large number of [[Sanskrit]] [[collections]], of which the chief are the Mahāsaṅghika's [[Mahāvastu]] ("Great [[Book]]"), and the Sarvāstivāda's Avadanasataka (Century of Legends) and [[Divyavadana]] (The [[Heavenly]] Legend). These latter [[collections]] include accounts relating to [[Buddha]] [[Gautama]] and the third-century BC "righteous ruler," [[Asoka]]. | + | [[File:636b87 b.jpg|thumb|250px|]] |
+ | <poem> | ||
+ | [[Avadāna]]; ([[Sanskrit]]; [[Pali]] [[cognate]]: [[Apadāna]]) is the [[name]] given to a type of [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|literature}} correlating past [[lives]]' [[virtuous]] [[deeds]] to subsequent [[lives]]' events. While including accounts from the [[Pali]] [[Vinaya Pitaka]] ("[[Basket]] of [[Discipline]]"), this {{Wiki|literature}} also includes a large number of [[Sanskrit]] [[collections]], of which the chief are the Mahāsaṅghika's [[Mahāvastu]] ("Great [[Book]]"), and the [[Sarvāstivāda's]] [[Avadanasataka]] (Century of Legends) and [[Divyavadana]] (The [[Heavenly]] Legend). These latter [[collections]] include accounts relating to [[Buddha]] [[Gautama]] and the third-century BC "[[righteous ruler]]," [[Asoka]]. | ||
− | Amongst the most popular avadānas of Northern [[Hinayāna]] [[Buddhism]] are: | + | Amongst the most popular [[avadānas]] of Northern [[Hinayāna]] [[Buddhism]] are: |
− | the story of [[Sudhana]], preserved in the [[Mahāvastu]] under the title Kinnarījātaka, amongst others, who falls in [[love]] with a kinnarī and saves her life | + | the story of [[Sudhana]], preserved in the [[Mahāvastu]] under the title [[Kinnarījātaka]], amongst others, who falls in [[love]] with a [[kinnarī]] and saves her life |
the [[Vessantara]] [[jātaka]], the story of the [[compassionate]] {{Wiki|prince}} who gives away everything he owns, including his wife and children, thereby displaying the [[virtue]] of perfect charity. | the [[Vessantara]] [[jātaka]], the story of the [[compassionate]] {{Wiki|prince}} who gives away everything he owns, including his wife and children, thereby displaying the [[virtue]] of perfect charity. | ||
− | the Suvannasankhajātaka | + | the [[Suvannasankhajātaka]] |
− | Though of later date than most of the {{Wiki|canonical}} [[Buddhist]] [[books]], avadānas are held in veneration by the {{Wiki|orthodox}}, and occupy much the same position with regard to [[Buddhism]] that the | + | Though of later date than most of the {{Wiki|canonical}} [[Buddhist]] [[books]], [[avadānas]] are held in veneration by the {{Wiki|orthodox}}, and occupy much the same position with regard to [[Buddhism]] that the {{Wiki|Puranas]] do towards [[Hinduism]]. They act in a similar way to other texts describing past [[deeds]] or past [[lives]] held in other [[traditions]] in the region, such as the aforementioned {{Wiki|Puranas]], the Dasam Granth and Janamsakhis of {{Wiki|Sikhism}}, and the [[Kalpa]] [[Sutra]] of [[Jainism]]. |
+ | </poem> | ||
+ | {{W}} | ||
+ | {{SanskritTerminology}} |
Latest revision as of 19:42, 14 September 2013
Avadāna; (Sanskrit; Pali cognate: Apadāna) is the name given to a type of Buddhist literature correlating past lives' virtuous deeds to subsequent lives' events. While including accounts from the Pali Vinaya Pitaka ("Basket of Discipline"), this literature also includes a large number of Sanskrit collections, of which the chief are the Mahāsaṅghika's Mahāvastu ("Great Book"), and the Sarvāstivāda's Avadanasataka (Century of Legends) and Divyavadana (The Heavenly Legend). These latter collections include accounts relating to Buddha Gautama and the third-century BC "righteous ruler," Asoka.
Amongst the most popular avadānas of Northern Hinayāna Buddhism are:
the story of Sudhana, preserved in the Mahāvastu under the title Kinnarījātaka, amongst others, who falls in love with a kinnarī and saves her life
the Vessantara jātaka, the story of the compassionate prince who gives away everything he owns, including his wife and children, thereby displaying the virtue of perfect charity.
the Suvannasankhajātaka
Though of later date than most of the canonical Buddhist books, avadānas are held in veneration by the orthodox, and occupy much the same position with regard to Buddhism that the {{Wiki|Puranas]] do towards Hinduism. They act in a similar way to other texts describing past deeds or past lives held in other traditions in the region, such as the aforementioned {{Wiki|Puranas]], the Dasam Granth and Janamsakhis of Sikhism, and the Kalpa Sutra of Jainism.