Lay-Life of India as reflected in Pali Jataka

by Rumki Mondal | 2018 | 71,978 words

India history Buddhism Theravada

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Summary: This essay studies significance of Lay-life of ancient India as reflected in Pali Jataka—a collection of over 547 birth stories of the Bodhisattva. Within Theravada Buddhism, these narratives serve as historical and moral guidelines and spiritual therapeutic tools. The chapters of this study expose the Jatakas as vital aspects of the Pali Canon and researches their role in popularizing Buddhism by reflecting on the socio-political and religious life in India.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Lay-Life of India as reflected in Pali Jataka in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

+ Chapter 1 - Jātaka: An Integral Part of Pāli Tipiṭaka

. Part 1 - Introduction to Theravāda Buddhism and the Pali Canon

. Part 2 - Introduction to Pāli Literature

. Part 3 - Meaning of the term of Jātaka

. Part 4 - Number of the Jātaka tales

. Part 5 - Introduction to the Jātakaṭṭhakathā

. Part 6 - Introduction to the Jātakaṭṭhakathāvaṇṇanā

. Part 7 - Introduction to the Jātakamālā

. Part 8 - Introduction to the Paññāsa Jātaka (apocryphal)

. Part 9 - Classification of Jātaka Stories

+ Chapter 2 - Jātaka Stories as a Methodological Instrument

. Part 1 - Sources of Bodhisattva concept

. Part 1.1 - Theravāda kings who have taken the vow of Bodhisattva-hood

. Part 2 - Bodhisattva and Pāramītā-cariyā—Introduction

. Part 2.1 - Dāna Pāramītā (charity) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.2 - Sīla Pāramītā (morality) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.3 - Nekkhamma Pāramītā (renunciation) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.4 - Paññā Pāramītā (wisdom) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.5 - Viriya Pāramītā (virility) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.6 - Khānti Pāramītā (patience) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.7 - Sacca Pāramītā (truthfulness) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.8 - Adhiṭṭhāna Pāramītā (determination) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.9 - Mettā Pāramītā (loving-kindness) in the Jātakas

. Part 2.10 - Upekkhā Pāramītā (equanimity) in the Jātakas

. Part 3 - The three kinds of Pāramī

. Part 4 - How Pāramītā creates good wholesome Kamma

. Part 5 - Description of the Three worlds

. Part 6 - Identifications of Bodhisattva

. Part 7 - Evolution of Consciousness through multiple births of Bodhisattva

. Part 7.1 - Notes regarding Nādīs (channels for the flow of consciousness)

. Part 7.2 - Notes regarding the Various Births of Bodhisattva

. Part 8 - Evolutionary concept of Bodhisattva

. Part 9 - Methodology of Jātaka Stories

. Part 10 - Psychological analysis of Jātaka Stories

. Part 11 - Narrative Stories nurture the Human minds

. Part 12 - The Nine Stages of Generating (Mind setting)

+ Chapter 3 - Reflection of Indian Lay-life in the Jātakas

. Part 1 - Introduction to Lay-people (Upasaka) in Buddhism

. Part 2 - Social environment in the Jātaka stories

. Part 3.1 - Social Condition of ancient India—Introduction

. Part 3.2 - The Social Structure of ancient India according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.3 - Family life of ancient India according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.4 - The system of Marriage in ancient India according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.5 - The Education system in ancient India according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.6 - The Flora and Fauna of ancient India according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.7 - Food habit of ancient Indians according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.8 - Dress and Clothing of ancient Indians according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.9 - Entertainment in ancient Indian according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.10 - Occupations of ancient Indians according to the Jātakas

. Part 3.11 - Diseases and their Remedies (according to the Jātakas)

. Part 4 - Economic Condition of ancient India—Introduction

. Part 4.1 - Market town and Bazars of ancient India

. Part 4.2 - Transports (or communications) and Trade routes of ancient India

. Part 4.3 - Currency of ancient India

. Part 5.1 - Political Condition of ancient India—Introduction

. Part 5.2 - India during the Mahājanapada period

. Part 5.3 - The Monarchic administration of ancient India

. Part 6 - The Aristocratic republic administration of ancient India

. Part 7 - Religious Conditions of ancient India

+ Chapter 4 - Place of Jātaka in Art and Culture

. Introduction—Influence of Jātakas on Buddhist art and architecture

. Part 1 - Monoscenic Narrative Mode

. Part 2 - Synoptic Narrative Mode

. Part 3 - Conflated Narrative Mode

. Part 4 - Sequential Narrative mode

. Part 5 - Continuous Narrative mode

. Part 6.1 - Network Narrative Mode

. Part 6.2 - Jātaka portrayals on Indian monuments

. Part 6.2 - Network Narrative Mode

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Last Updated: 17 May, 2025

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