In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The Bodhisatta was once an Udicca brahmin who, having entered the ascetic life, lived in Himava. He one day visited Rajagaha, and the king invited him to stay in the Royal Park. While he was there, a brahmin who believed in omens as shown by clothes (Dussalakkhana brahmana) found a garment in his chest which had been gnawed by mice, and, fearing disaster, wished to have it thrown out into the charnel ground. Unwilling to entrust the job to anyone else, he gave the clothes to his son to throw away. The Bodhisatta saw the garment and picked it up in spite of the grave warnings of the old brahmin, saying that no wise man should believe in omens.

The story was told in reference to a superstitious brahmin of Rajagaha who had his clothes thrown away in the manner related above. The Buddha was waiting in the charnel field and picked up the garments. When the brahmin protested, he related to him the story and preached to him on the folly of paying heed to superstitions. At the end of the sermon, father and son became sotapannas. The characters in both stories are the same. J.i.371ff.

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: Jataka, Mankala, Mangala.

Ends with: Mahamangala Jataka, Sumangala Jataka.

Full-text: Dussalakkhana.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Mangala Jataka, Maṅgala-jātaka; (plurals include: Mangala Jatakas, jātakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)

Jataka 453: Mahā-Maṅgala-jātaka < [Volume 4]

show preview