Preface

The Jātaka is the most significant part of the Khuddakanikāya, the second part of the Suttapiṭaka. This text has great literary and historical value. These Pāli Jātaka stories are of inestimable value to the readers of ancient Indian culture, religion and ethics. Not only that, it is an invaluable record of the social, political, economic history of the ancient period in India. The entire concept of Jātakas is derived from the unflinching belief in Karma and Bodhisattva. Stories depicted in both human and animal form. Since the capacity of suffering is well developed in animals, as it is in human, both equally deserve to be treated with kindness. Karma rules the lives of animals and humans alike. The Jātakas are supposed to have been chiefly utilised by Gautama Buddha to popularize Buddhism amongst the common mass. These tales are so enchanting and captivating that even they could draw the attention of the people of the later period. Jātaka stories are also important for purpose of sculptural decorations. As a result of which we find enormous growth of various Jātaka texts.

In short, Jātakas are tales of the former births of the Gautama Buddha. The reciter of these tales is Buddha himself and all these stories contain a moral, a warning or an example, and in each the Bodhisattva plays the most prominent part. They highlight specifically Buddhist virtues, such as kindness, patience, honesty, courage, civility, simplicity and detachment. Though the setting of all the stories is, of course, ancient India, the characters in the Jātakas are not bound to any specific period or place. The Buddha’s message is universal, and the themes of these stories are still relevant today. We see in these stories how beings wander through Saṃsāra, how they develop habits and traits of character, both good and bad, and how they often commit the same mistakes or perform the same noble actions. Now a question may arise as to how these ancient traditions will be accepted by the modern world! This modern age is characterized by the scientific virtues of questioning and rational thinking. But, these stories, I believe, succinctly conveys the relevance of Jātakas to the modern day society.

To prepare my Thesis I have received academic and non–academic help from a lot of people and institutions. It is also a great pleasure for expressing my gratitude to the Librarians and staff of: 1) The Asiatic Society 2) The Central library, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 4) National library 5) Departmental Library, Department of Pali, University of Calcutta, Kolkata 6) Sanskrit College & University Library.

I am fortunate enough to have a circle of veteran Pali scholars who helped me directly or indirectly. I acknowledge my deep gratitude to my supervisor Prof. (Dr.) Aiswarya Biswas, Professor & Head, Department of Buddhist studies, University of Calcutta, for her guidance, understanding, indulgence and confidence in me.

I am deeply grateful also to our former Professor Suniti Kumar Pathak, Department of IndoTibetan Studies, Viswa-Bharati, Santiniketan, who enhanced my confidence and capacity day by day.

I am also deeply indebted to Prof. (Dr.) Madhumita Chattopadhyaya, Professor of Philosophy, Jadavpur University, for her ungrudging help in solution of any problems satisfactorily when I approached her.

Dr. Ujjwal Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Buddhist studies, University of Calcutta, has helped me by putting me some quarries and constantly boosting me up whenever I met him.

I am indebted also to the teachers of the Department of Pali, Prof. (Dr.) Bela Bhattacharya (Emeritus Professor), Prof. (Dr.) Manikuntala Haldar (De), Dr. Jayanti Chatterjee (Associate Professor, Department of Pali, University of Calcutta), Dr. Saswati Mutsuddi (Head of the Department of Pali, University of Calcutta), Dr. Subhra Barua (Guest Faculty), Dr. Saheli Das (Visiting Faculty), Dr. Sumanapal Bhikkhu (Visiting Faculty), Dr. Piyali Chakrabort (Assistant Professor, Department of Buddhist studies), Dr. Dipa Das (Guest Faculty), Dr. Bandana Mukhopadhya (Guest Faculty, Department of Languages, University of Calcutta) for their constant support, inspiration and suggestion.

I also wish to record my gratitude to all friends.

Finally I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my parents and husband Shri Sourajit Das for their all kinds of support and encouragement.

Place: Kolkata 

Rumki Mondal Department of Pali
University of Calcutta.
Kolkata.