Kanhadipayana, Kanhadīpāyana: 1 definition

Introduction:

Kanhadipayana 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»] — Kanhadipayana in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Kanhadipayana - An ascetic of great power. When the Andhakavenhudasaputta found themselves unable to capture Dvaravati, because the city rose into the air when attacked, they sought the ascetics help. He told them that an ass wandered round the city and brayed at the sight of an enemy, when the city immediately rose up into the sky. The Andhakavenhus sought the ass and begged for his help. Acting on the asss advice, they tied eight great iron posts to the gates, thus preventing the city from rising. In this way they captured it (J.iv.83).

Later, their sons, wishing to test Kanhadipanyanas powers of clairvoyance, played a practical joke on him. They tied a pillow to the belly of a young lad, and dressing him up as a woman, took him to the ascetic and asked when the baby would be born. The ascetic replied that on the seventh day the person before him would give birth to a knot of acacia wood which would destroy the race of Vasudeva. The youths thereupon fell on him and killed him, but his prophecy came true (J.iv.87). This ascetic is evidently not the one mentioned in the Jataka bearing his name, for there he is identified with the Bodhisatta, while in the story given above the Bodhisatta was the ascetics contemporary and was called Ghatapandita (q.v.).

The immolation of Kanhadipayana and its consequences are often referred to. E.g., J.v.114; 267, 273.

2. Kanhadipayana - An ascetic; his story is given in the Kanhadipayana Jataka.

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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