Mahajanaka Jataka, Mahājanaka-jātaka: 1 definition
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Mahajanaka Jataka 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)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesMahajanaka, king of Mithila in Videha, had two sons, Aritthajanaka and Polajanaka. On his death, the elder came to the throne and made his brother viceroy, but, later, suspecting him of treachery, had him put in chains. Polajanaka escaped, and, when he had completed his preparations, laid siege to the city, killed Aritthajanaka, and seized the throne. Aritthajanakas wife escaped in disguise, taking with her a lot of treasures. She was pregnant, and as her child was the Bodhisatta, Sakkas throne was heated, and he appeared before her as a charioteer and took her to Kalacampa. There she was adopted by an Udicca brahmin as his sister and the child was born. When he played with other boys they mocked at him, calling him the widows son. He asked his mother what this meant, but she put him off with evasive answers until one day he bit her on the breast and insisted on being told the truth. When he was sixteen, she gave him half the treasures, and he embarked on a ship going to Suvannabhumi for trade. The ship was wrecked in mid ocean, but nothing daunted, Mahajanaka (as the boy was called) swam valiantly for seven days, till Manimekkhala, goddess of the sea, admiring his courage, rescued him and placed him in the mango grove in Mithila.
Meanwhile Polajanaka had died and left orders that the throne should go to one who could find favour in the eyes of his daughter, should know which is the head of a square bed, could string the bow that required the strength of one thousand men, and could draw out the sixteen great treasures. No one seemed forthcoming who was able to fulfil these conditions; the ministers thereupon decked the state chariot with the five insignia of royalty and sent it out, accompanied by music. The car left the city gates, and the horses went to the mango grove and stopped at the spot where Mahajanaka lay asleep. The chaplain, seeing the auspicious marks on his feet, awoke him, and explaining to him his mission, crowned him king. When he entered the palace, Sivali (the late kings daughter) was immediately won over by his appearance, and willingly agreed to be his queen. He was told of the other conditions mentioned by the dead king; he solved the riddles contained in some and fulfilled them all.
In time Sivali bore him a son, Dighavukumara, whom, in due course, Mahajanaka made viceroy. One day Mahajanaka went into his park, and noticing how a mango tree, which bore fruit had been plundered by his courtiers while another which was barren was left in peace, he realized that possessions meant sorrow, and retiring into a room, lived the ascetic life. His life span was ten thousand years, of which three thousand still remained to him. After living for four months in the palace, he resolved to renounce the world, and having made his preparations, secretly left the palace. The queen met him on the stairs,
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).
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Mahajanaka, Jataka.
Full-text: Polajanaka, Mahajanaka, Mithila, Thuna, Sivali.
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Search found 6 books and stories containing Mahajanaka Jataka, Mahājanaka-jātaka; (plurals include: Mahajanaka Jatakas, jātakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dhammapada (Illustrated) (by Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero)
Verse 112 - The Story of Venerable Sappadāsa < [Chapter 8 - Sahassa Vagga (Thousands)]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Vietnamese Buddhist Art (by Nguyen Ngoc Vinh)
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 2 - Note on Saraṇa-gamana (taking refuge) < [Chapter 37 - Story of King Ajātasattu]
Part 2 - Story of King Pukkusāti < [Chapter 36 - The Buddha’s Height Measured by a Brahmin]
The Buddha and His Teachings (by Narada Thera)
The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 539: Mahājanaka-jātaka < [Volume 6]