Vessantara Jātaka
| Translations of Vessantara Jātaka | |
|---|---|
| Burmese | ဝေဿန္တရာ ဇာတ်တော် (Wethandaya Zatdaw) |
| Khmer | មហាវេស្សន្ដរជាតក (Moha Vessandor Cheadok) |
| Thai | มหาเวสสันดรชาดก (Maha Wetsandon Chadok) |
| Glossary of Buddhism | |
The Vessantara Jātaka is one of the most popular apadānas of Theravada Buddhism. The Vessantara Jātaka tells the story of one of Gautama Buddha's past lives, about a compassionate prince, Vessantara, who gives away everything he owns, including his children, thereby displaying the virtue of perfect generosity. It is also known as the Great Birth Sermon. The story has slight variations in other parts of Asia where the story is known as the Jinaputra Arthasiddhi sutra in Tibet and the prince known as "Prince Arthasiddhi" and in China it's known as Taizi Xudanuo jing where the prince is known as "Prince Sudana" (須大拏太子) and "Shudaina-taishi" in Japan.[1][2]
The tale of Prince Vessantara is celebrated as an annual festival in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
Outline story
Introduction
When Gautama Buddha visited his father's kingdom for the first time after he achieved the supreme enlightenment, arrogant elders of the ruling dynasty did not pay him respect, since they were older than the former Prince Siddhartha. The Buddha miraculously appeared in the air above his relatives. His father was the first to bow down and admitted that this was his third time to pay respect to his own son. Members of the dynasty then bowed down and accepted the religion. Suddenly, rain clouds gathered and a red-drop rain appeared. This miracle led to his followers' asking, "What is this rain?" He then explained that this rain had appeared once before, during his last life before his present life. Then, he told them the story of his previous life as King Vessantara.
Vessantara's birth and youth
King Vessantara was the son of Sañjaya, king of Sivirattha, and was born in the capital city of Jatuttara as a bodhisattva.[3]
His mother, according to tradition, was a princess who made great merit (Buddhism) and wished to become the mother of a future Bodhisattva who would be the next Buddha. After she died, the princess ascended to the Celestial Kingdom and became one of the god Indra's consorts. She lived happily until the day she had to be reborn again as a human. Indra gave her ten boons and one of them was 'Let me become the mother of Bodhisattva, who in his next life will achieve enlightenment'. She descended to the human world, was born to the court of a king, and later married to King Sañjaya.
On the last day of her pregnancy, the Queen wished to site-see in the capital city. Her husband granted her that wish. She visited several districts, and the people were delighted by their queen. While she was in the merchant quarter, she gave birth in an emergency delivery at the bazaar, in the heart of the city. Therefore, the newborn prince and heir was named Vessantara, which means 'Born in the merchant quarter'. As soon as he opened his eyes, the infant prince asked his mother for money to give to the poor. On the same day, a female elephant brought her newborn calf to the royal palace. The calf was pure white.
Vessantara grew up to be a kind person who was willing to give away his belongings to others. His parents were delighted by their son's character and supported the prince's charity with their treasures. Vessantara married princess Madri. They had two children: the Prince Jali and the Princess Kanhajina. Sañjaya retired and Vessantara was crowned King.
Banishment and life as hermit
One day Vessantara gave away the magical white elephant, which had brought rain to his kingdom, to envoys from Kalinga, a neighboring country which was facing a drought . The citizens of Vessantara's kingdom were distressed by the fear of drought because of the loss of the elephant. Thus, they convinced King Sanjaya to resume control of the kingdom and banish his son Vessantara.
The king readily gave away his kingdom to his father. Before leaving the city and going to live in the forest as a rishi (hermit) with his wife Maddi and their two children, he also gave away his wealth.[4]
One of his loyal courtiers suggested that the family should live at Vamka Mountain. They left the city on a four-horse chariot. Along the way Vessantara gave away his horses and four deities appeared in the form of stags to pull the chariot. Then he gave away his chariot. The family walked on foot through a forest. The young prince and princess saw wild fruit hanging on high branches, but their parents could not reach it. Miraculously, all the trees bent their branches for them.
The family then arrived at the neighbouring kingdom of Ceta. The king of Ceta was informed of their arrival and rushed to greet the prince. He was touched by their story and offered his throne, but the prince declined. He and his family also declined to stay in a palace. The king of Ceta ordered a hunter to patrol the entrance to Vamka Mountain, to prevent anyone from disturbing the family.
Meanwhile, Jujaka, a greedy old brahmin who lived as a beggar, had a very young wife, Amittada, who was also very beautiful and hard-working. During the drought Amittada used to regularly bring water from the well for her old husband. The husbands of the other women in the village held her up as an example of a good industrious wife. One day, in a fit of jealousy, all the village women gathered by the well and beat up the Brahmin's young wife, tearing her clothes.
From that day onwards the girl stubbornly refused to go to the well any longer. Amittada harassed Jujaka telling him to find her some servants in order to spare her more ridicule. She did not give her husband any peace.
Jujaka met the hunter guarding the entrance to Vamka Mountain and tricked him. He met a rishi and tricked him as well. Finally, the Brahmin Jujaka went to the forest to prince Vessantara while his wife Maddi was away. He asked him for his two children, which Vessantara readily gave away. Jali and Kanha went to hide in a lotus pond. Their father found them and asked if they would help their father achieve his highest goal. Both agreed and became Jujaka's slaves. Vessantara told the Brahmin to bring his children to their grandfather, saying, "The king will reward you for bringing his beloved grandchildren back to them". Jujaka disagreed, stating the Sunjaya would execute him instead. The Brahmin tied both children with vines and dragged them like cattle. Both children begged their father to help them while the old man scolded and beat them with his stick. Vessantara could not stand this scene and reached for his weapon he kept in his hut. However, he overcame all anger and let his children be taken away.
Maddi's return passage to their residence was blocked by tigers (actually gods in disguise). When she didn't see her children, she wandered around all night looking for them and finally collapsed before her husband. Vessatara thought she was dead so he lamented his loss. He put her head on his lap and realised that she was still breathing. He revived Maddi with water. She woke up and rose immediately as the couple had taken a vow of celibacy and were not supposed to touch each other. Vessantara told her what had happened. After Maddi learnt that her husband gave away their children, she praised him for his greatness.
Fearing that Vessantara would have given away his wife as well, God Śakra intervened and in disguise, asked for his wife Maddi, which Vessantara readily gave him as well. Then Indra gave Maddi back to Vessantara as a trust, for all his acts of benevolence and generosity had been perfect.[5]
Return to Sivi
A god and a goddess felt sympathy for the young prince and princess. They disguised themselves as their parents and helped nurse Jali and Kanha. They made Jujaka take a wrong turn and led him to into Sivi Kingdom and through the palace gate. King Sanjaya saw two familiar faces and ordered royal guards to bring them to him. He recognized his grandchildren and paid for their price. Kanha's price was higher than her brother's, as her father wanted no one to buy her from Jujaka. In fact, both Jali and Kanha's prices were so high that only the wealthy king Sanjaya of the Sivi Kingdom could have bought them.
Jujaka became extremely rich. At his first meal as a rich man, he ate too much. His digestive system failed and he fell dead upon his plate. King Sanjaya sent his men to find Jujaka's family to inherit his wealth; however, his wife and in-laws were afraid of the punishment for Jujaka's treason, so they escaped.
Sanjaya arranged a grand procession to meet his son and daughter-in-law. The Kingdom of Kalinga also returned the white elephant, now that Kalinga had become prosperous again, abating the anger of the people of Sivi. Jali led the army and men to his parents' residence and the family was reunited. After the most happy moment, all six of them collapsed.
The red rain poured down from Heaven to revive the family. This rain "soaks those who want to be soaked, but will not fall on those who want to stay dry." Vessantara was crowned as king again and returned to his kingdom. Indra blessed Sivi Kingdom with a seven-gem rain. Vessantara allowed people to keep those gems for themselves and the leftover went into the Kingdom treasury, which he used for his charity. He was also given the blessing of never running out of treasure for his charity.
Lord Buddha explained that each figure had been reborn as people surrounding him. His parents were Vessantara's parents. Maddi was reborn as his former wife. Jali became Rahula, his son. Kanha became Upalavanna, the Bhikkhuni (nun). The loyal courtier who informed him of the place he should stay became Ananda, his cousin and attendant. Jujaka became Devadatta, his arch enemy. The white elephant became Maha Kassapa.
Festivals and arts
| Vessantara Festival | |
|---|---|
| Also called | Boun Pha Vet (in Laos) Medin Full Moon Poya (in Sri Lanka) Thet Mahachat (in Thailand) |
| Observed by | Thais, Lao, Sri Lankans, Cambodians and Burmese |
| Type | Buddhist |
| Significance | Commemorates the Vessantara Jataka |
| Date | Full moon day of the 12th lunar month |
The Vessantara Jataka is celebrated in temples during a Buddhist festival known as Thet Mahachat (Template:Lang-th), from Maha Jati or "Great Birth", in Central Thailand,[6] Boun Pha Vet in Laos[7] and as Bun Phawet (Bun Phra Wes), Bun Duan Sii (Merit-making of the fourth month) or Thet Phawet in Isan. It is also an important celebration in Cambodia,[8] Burma[9] and Sri Lanka.[10]
The Thet Mahachat is very popular both in rural and urban communities, often with dance and drama performances, as well as festive parades and processions through the towns. During this Buddhist festival the monks give a sermon of all chapters of the Vessantara Jataka, accompanied by rituals and cultural performances. Because of its central role on the Thet Mahachat or Boun Pha Vet celebrations, the Vessantara Jataka is an important part of the traditional folklore in many areas of the Southeast Asian region. Some of the scenes, especially the mismatched couple formed by Jujaka, the old Brahmin, and his nagging young wife Amittada, are avidly followed by the average people during the festival.[11] While it has lost its traditional importance in some areas, in others it has gained in popularity.[12]
Scenes of the Vessantara Jataka are engraved on Angkor Wat murals. They are also often found depicted on the walls of Buddhist temples throughout Southeast Asia. This story is also depicted in ancient patterns on ikat silk cloth.[13]
Role in legitimizing kingship
In the last seven centuries in Thailand, the Vessantara Jātaka has played a significant role in legitimating kingship in Thailand, through the Great Birth festival. Merit-making and paramis were greatly emphasized in this festival, through the story about Prince Vessantara's generosity. Initially, the festival was an important way for the Chakri dynasty to legitimate itself, as Vessantara was the model prince who became king through the power of his merits and sacrifice. During the reform period of Rama IV, however, as Thai Buddhism was being modernized, the festival was dismissed as not reflecting true Buddhism. Its popularity has greatly diminished ever since. Nevertheless, the use of merit-making by the Thai monarchy and government to solidify their position and create unity in society has continued until at least the late twentieth century.[14]
Gallery
- Vessantara jataka
-
God Indra gives ten boons to Queen Phusati. -
People are angry at Vessantara. -
Vessantara gives away the cart to a brahmin. -
Vessantara goes into exile. -
Jujaka with Amittada, his beautiful wife. -
Hunter bent his bow, aimed at Jujaka. -
Jujaka asks the hermit for directions. -
Vessantara asks his children to come out of the lotus pond. -
Wild animals bar the way for Maddi. -
Indra asks Vessantara for his wife -
Devas take care of Vessantara's children. -
The royal family is reunited. -
Vessantara is warmly welcomed.
Gallery photos of the murals from Three Bridges Temple (Thai: วัดสะพานสาม wat saphan saam), Phitsanulok, Thailand, 2015.
License CC-BY-SA-4.0 confers on May 17, 2016.
See also
Bibliography
- Phraya Anuman Rajadhon (1888–1969), Thet Maha Chat. Promotion and Public Relations Sub-Division, Fine Arts Department, Bangkok, 1990
- Richard Gombrich & Margaret Cone, The perfect generosity of Prince Vessantara. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1977.
Further reading
- Siegfried Lienhard: Die Legende vom Prinzen Viśvantara. Eine nepalesische Bilderrolle aus der Sammlung des Museums for Indische Kunst Berlin. Berlin. 1980. Veröffentlichungen des Museums für Indische Kunst Berlin, 5.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ The Wetsandon Jataka translated by John Crocker
- ^ The Vessantara Jataka
- ^ Vessantara Jātaka No. 547.
- ^ มหาเวสสันดรชาดก - Maha Wetsandon Chadok
- ^ Boun Pha Vet Archived April 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Dance Troupe Prepares for Smithsonian Performance Archived January 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rev. Sengpan Pannyawamsa, Recital of the Tham Vessantara Jātaka: a social-cultural phenomenon in Kengtung, Eastern Shan State, Myanmar, Institute of PAli and Buddhist Studies, (University of Kelaniya), Sri Lanka
- ^ The Importance of Medin Poya
- ^ Phraya Anuman Rajadhon, Essays on Thai Folklore ISBN 974-210-345-3
- ^ Sacred Biography and Performance Community: A Dramaturgical Analysis of Urban Thai Buddhist Narrative Celebrations (Bangkok) Archived March 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Silk at Ban Sawai Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jory, Patrick (2016). Thailand's Theory of Monarchy: The Vessantara Jataka and the Idea of the Perfect Man. SUNY Press. pp. 181–2. ISBN 978-1-4384-6090-1.
External links
- Full text of The wheel of the law. Buddhism, illustrated from Siamese sources by the Modern Buddhist, a Life of Buddha, and an account of the Phrabat
- Jataka influence in Southeast Asian culture Template:Vi
- Modern debates about the Vessantara Jataka
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