In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

Khandahala was the chaplain of King Ekaraja of Pupphavati. The chaplain took bribes, and the kings son, Candakumara, having been told of this, once righted a wrong decision, thereby winning the applause of the people. The king appointed him judge, and Khandahala vowed vengeance. Later the king, having dreamed of heaven, asked Khandahala the way thither; the chaplain replied that the way lay through a sacrifice in which all the kings sons, his queens, his merchant princes, and his most treasured possessions should be offered. Khandahala hoped thereby to bring about the death of Candakumara. Ekaraja accepted the suggestion and made all preparations for the sacrifice. Several times the king wavered in his resolve, being interceded with by his parents, Canda and his wives, and the people. Khandahala goaded him on, but at the moment when the sword was about to descend on the neck of Candakumara, the latters wife, Canda, daughter of the Pancala king, made an act of truth, and Sakka appeared, brandishing a thunderbolt. Canda was saved, the crowd killed Khandahala, and would have killed the king too but for the intervention of Sakka. The king was made an outcast and banished from the city, and Candakumara, now the crowned king, supplied all his wants. (J.vi.129-57; the story is also found in the Cariyapitaka as the Candakumara cariya).

Khandahala is identified with Devadatta, Canda with Rahulamata, and Candakumara with the Bodhisatta.

The story was told in reference to Devadattas attempts to kill the Buddha by engaging the services of archers to shoot him.

The story is referred to as an example of a husband being saved by the virtue of his wife (J.iv.47), and also of one instance of Devadatta having greater power than the Bodhisatta (Mil.203).

The Jataka is sometimes called the Candakumara 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).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Khandahala, Jataka.

Full-text: Candakumara Jataka, Khandahala, Suravamagotta, Upaseni, Suriyakumara, Candakumara, Vasavatti, Ekaraja.

Relevant text

No search results for Khandahala Jataka, Khandahāla-jataka; (plurals include: Khandahala Jatakas, jatakas) in any book or story.