Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (early history)
by Prakash Narayan | 2011 | 63,517 words
This study deals with the history of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (Northern India) taking into account the history and philosophy of Buddhism. Since the sixth century B.C. many developments took place in these regions, in terms of society, economic life, religion and arts and crafts....
The Buddha and the Gamanis
The gamani addresses the Buddha as bhante in his conversation and salutes him (ahivadeti). The gamani is referred to in the text as gamani, and addressed as such by the Buddha.[1] There is only one instance where a change in the mode of address by the gamani to the Buddha can be noticed which seems to have resulted in a change of status of the Buddha in the mind of the gamani.[2] Once the gamani Pataliya approaches the Buddha and asks him either to confirm or deny the rumours that the samana Gotama knew magic. He addresses the Buddha as bhante Bhagava and salutes him (abhivadeti). The Buddha replies that those who alleged that he knew magic spoke in accordance with his views. When the gamani hears this, he at once lapses into the familiar bho Gotama, and in anger he says, “so after all the samana, bho Gotama, is a trickster (mayavi).” Thus the change in the attitude of the gamani, from one of respect to one of low esteem, is reflected in the change in the mode of address, from bhante Bhagava to bho Gotama.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Samyutta Nikaya.IV.305, 306, 308-9, 310-11, 312f, 325ff, 340-41ff.
[2]:
Ibid., IV.340.
[3]:
See Woodward, Kindered Sayings, IV.244, n. 5, who notes this change in the mode of address but feels that, as in the sentence below gamani says bhante again, the reading should be bho instead of bhante. However, Woodward fails to notice the change in the term of reference which occurred simultaneously. As in seen, bhante Bhagava is replaced by bho Gotama. Thus a definite effort is made to distinguish the two terms.