Jatakatthakatha, Jātakaṭṭhakathā: 1 definition

Introduction:

Jatakatthakatha means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Jatakatthakatha in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A Commentary on the Jataka. It comprises all the verses of the Jataka and gives also, in prose, the stories connected with the verses. Each such story is given a framework of introductory episode, stating the circumstances in which the story was related, and each story has at the end an identification of the chief characters mentioned with the Buddha and his contemporaries in some previous birth.

The whole collection is prefaced by a long introductory essay, the Nidanakatha, giving the Buddhas history before his birth as Siddhattha, and also during his last birth, up to the time of the Enlightenment.

The work is a translation into Pali of the commentary in Sinhalese as handed down in Ceylon, but the verses of this commentary were already in Pali.

The authorship of the translation is traditionally attributed to Buddhaghosa, but there exists much difference of opinion on this point. For a discussion see P.L.C.123ff.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Discover the meaning of jatakatthakatha in the context of Theravada from relevant books on Exotic India

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