The Height of Generosity in Sanskrit Work Jatakamala Entitled ‘The Story Of the Tigress’

Abstract

       Jatakamala meaning garland of birth stories was composed by the Poet Shura or Aryashura. The writing style is similar to Ashvaghosa’s Sutralankara or Kalpanamanthitika which inscribed by Mixed Sanskrit or Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit. Jatakamala is used for recording dhamma and Buddhist stories.

          There was no clear evidence for Jatakamala to tell that when it was composed. However, there were some evidences for identification as follow: There were some stories found from mural paintings in Ajanta Caves and Parahut Stupa which there was an inscription telling that the stories were from Aryashura’s Jatakamala. Considering the age of the letters, the inscription might be at CE 600. Moreover, one of his works was translated into Chinese around CE 434.

          Jataka Mala contains 34 Jataka composed in prose. and verses alternately It is similar to the Jataka that appears in the Jataka literature. and Pali ethics. The content describes the life of the Buddha in his past lifes, including his asceticism when he was a Bodhisattva in order to attain his ultimate goal of becoming a Buddha. Another very important role of a Bodhisattva is mercy, surrendering one's life and body to all beings, especially, the 1^st Jataka entitled. The Tigress which mentioned an act of great charity of the Bodhisattva directly. From the analysis of Bodhisattva's alms giving in Sanskrit literature, the story of a mother and baby tiger found that Bodhisattvas have given alms in 4 ways: 1. Donating their own bodies as alms 2. The purpose of alms giving is to help 3. The three components of the complete Bodhisattva is the giver, the tigress is the receiver, and the Bodhisattva's body is offering.