Kaka Jataka, Kāka-jātaka, Kakajataka: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Kaka Jataka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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»] — Kaka Jataka in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Kaka Jataka (No.140) - The Bodhisatta was once born as a crow. One day a crow dropped filth on the kings chaplain as he was returning from the bath arrayed in all his splendour. He thereupon conceived hatred against all crows. Soon after that a woman slave, watching some rice spread out in the sun to dry, was angered by a goat who, as soon as she fell asleep, started to eat the rice. In exasperation she fetched a torch and struck the goats shaggy back, which caught fire. To ease its pain, the goat ran into the hayshed near the kings elephant stalls and rolled in the hay. In the conflagration that ensued many of the elephants were badly burnt, and when the chaplain was consulted, remembering his anger against crows, he said that the cure for burns was crows fat. Crows were accordingly being mercilessly slaughtered; the Bodhisatta, hearing of this sought the king and explained to him the chaplains motive. Crows had no fat, he said, because their life is passed in ceaseless dread. The king, being greatly pleased with the Bodhisattas act, granted immunity to all living beings, showing particular favour towards crows.

The circumstances which led to the recital of the story are described in the Bhaddasala Jataka (q.v.). The king in the story was Ananda.

2. Kaka Jataka (No.146) - Once a crow came with his mate to the seashore and ate freely of the remnants of a sacrifice which had been offered by men to the Nagas and drank freely of the strong drink which he found. Both crows became drunk, and, while trying to swim in the surf, the hen crow was washed into the sea and eaten by a fish. Hearing the husbands lamentations, many crows gathered together and started to empty the ocean, working away until ready to drop from weariness. Seeing their plight, the Bodhisatta, who was then a sea sprite, caused a bogey to appear from the sea, frightening them away.

The story was told in reference to a number of monks who had joined the Order in their old age. They went for alms to their former wives and childrens houses, and gathering together at the house of the wife of one of them (she being particularly beautiful), placed together what each had received and ate it with sauces and curries prepared by the beautiful wife. The woman died, and the aged monks, returning to the monastery, wept aloud for their benefactress, the giver of sauces. The matter was reported to the Buddha, who identified the crows of the past with the foolish monks (J.i.497-9).

According to the Dhammapada Commentary (iii.422), the name of the woman was Madhurapacika.

3. Kaka Jataka (No.395) - The Bodhisatta was once a pigeon and lived in a net basket in the kitchen of a Benares merchant. A greedy crow, becoming intimate with him, came to live there. The cook discovered the crow trying to steal some food, and, pulling out his feathers,

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).

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kaka Jataka in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Kākajātaka (काकजातक).—nt., Crow-Jātaka: Mahāvastu iii.129.17, colo-phon to story beginning 125.10, = Pali Supatta-Jātaka (Pali), No. 292.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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