Kanavera Jataka, Kanavera-jātaka: 1 definition

Introduction:

Kanavera 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)

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

Once the Bodhisatta was born as a robber in a village in Kasi and became notorious for his banditry. When the people complained of him to the king, the latter had him arrested by the governor of the province and condemned to death. While being led to execution with a wreath of red kanavera flowers on his head, he was seen by Sama, the chief courtesan of the city, and she immediately fell in love with him for his comely and striking appearance. Sama, sending word to the governor that the robber was her brother, persuaded him, by means of a bribe of one thousand pieces of money, to set him free and send him to her for a little while. Then, using all her guile, she substituted for the robber a youth who was enamoured of her and who had happened to visit her that day. This youth was killed in the place of the robber, who was brought to Sama, and she showered on him all her favours. Fearing that when Sama grew tired of him she might betray him, the robber went with her one day into the park and, on the pretence of embracing her, squeezed her till she swooned, then taking all her ornaments, made good his escape. Sama, all unsuspecting, imagined him to have run away from fear of having killed her by his too violent embraces, and she used all her ingenuity in searching for him, such as bribing some wandering minstrels to sing, wherever they went, a set of stanzas declaring that she was still alive and loved none but him, her lover. One day the robber heard the stanzas and learned from the minstrels that Sama still longed for him, but he refused to return, sending her word that he doubted her constancy. In despair, Sama returned to her former means of livelihood. J.iii.58-63.

The occasion for the telling of this story is given in the Indriya Jataka. The story is referred to in the Sulasa Jataka (J.iii.436) and in the scholiast to the Kunala Jataka (J.v.446).

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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