The Examination of Accounts Relating to Sea Traders in the Buddhist Jātakas and Avadānas

Transcription

1 The Examination of Accounts Relating to Sea Traders in the Buddhist Jātakas and Avadānas MIROJ SHAKYA University of the West PNC 2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Getty Center, Los Angeles, USA August 16-18, 2016

2 Introduction There are many narratives in Buddhist Jātakas and Avadānas on the Bodhisattva as merchant participating in dangerous oversea caravan journey and bringing goods and collecting precious stones therefrom to accumulate wealth. Beside his business, the Bodhisattva also rescues his fellow travelers from disasters on their voyage and propagates the Buddhism to the foreign lands. I will examine some narratives like Jātaka and Divyāvadāna about sea merchants and investigate different activities of the Bodhisattva and highlight how he plays an important role in propagating Buddhism in the foreign lands.

3 The Jātaka The Jātaka is a massive collection of Buddhist folklore about previous incarnations of the Buddha, both in human and animal form. Originally written in Pali, and dating to at least 380 BCE, the Jātaka includes many stories which have traveled afar. Many of these can be traced crossculturally in the folklore of many countries. Contains 547 Jātaka stories Sources:

4 Mahājanaka Jātaka (No. 539.) The Mahājanaka Jātaka the prince vowed to regain his father s kingdom. set out on a seafaring voyage with the aim of building a fortune in a distant land so he could use the wealth to set up a powerful army. the ship sank in the middle of the ocean and everyone on board drowned or was killed by ferocious sea creatures - except the prince. Mahājanaka Jātaka, Ajanta

5 The Mahājanaka Jātaka (No. 539.) A typical folio from a Thai folding book containing a collection of Buddhist texts including the Mahabuddhaguna in Khom (Khmer) script. The illustrations depict Mahājanaka s sinking ship with giant fish waiting to swallow the helpless humans. On the right is Mahājanaka clinging to a wood plank while a goddess comes to his rescue. British Library, Or.14559, f. 5.

6 Mahājanaka Jātaka He drifted in the ocean for seven days without food, but survived through the sheer strength of his determination and perseverance. Although he refused to implore the gods for help, a goddess named Manimekhala lifted him from the waters and flew him to the royal park of Mithila in his father s kingdom, which he finally regained in an unusual way. Thereafter, he discovered the truths of life and left his kingdom to pursue spiritual attainment. It is the story of one who would rather perish than give up. Mahājanaka s rescue in a more abstract painting style with a bright red background and floral decorations. The outfits of the goddess and Mahājanaka are in the tradition of the late Ayutthaya style. This Thai manuscript from the 18th century contains the Mahabuddhaguna and other extracts from the Pali canon. British Library, Or.14068, f. 3.

7 Supāraga (Pali: Supparaka) Jātaka, No. 463 Bodhisattva became a great ships captain Extensive knowledge of the constellations Known as Supāraga means Good Passage Ran into a terrible storm Not able to control the ship in the fierce winds To save the ship, Supāraga drove it to several oceans, namely, Khuramala, Aggimala, Dadhimala, Nilavannakusamala, Nalamala and Valabhamukha. They explained that they had reached the end of the world known as the Mare s mouth, the mouth of the lord of death. Source: Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts, Mongolia (Source: A.N.D Haksar, Jatakamala )

8 Supāraga Jātaka (Pali: Supparaka) He asked the gods, by the power of his virtue, to turn the ship around and not let them fall into the Mare s Mouth. So great was the power of his truth that the current and winds immediately changed direction. The sky began to clear. The ship moved smoothly across the seas and they were able to obtain a treasure, silver, gold, sapphires and beryl. They reached their destination safely. Ship in storm saved by Supparaka

9 Samudda-vāṇija-jātaka No How a body of carpenters settled in a certain island, and the island deities determined to overwhelm them with a flood; how the wise were saved, but the foolish remained and were all lost. Valāhassa-jātaka.No How some shipwrecked mariners escaped from a city of goblins by aid of a flying horse. Source:

10 Divyāvadāna A large compendium of Indian Buddhist narratives written in Sanskrit from the early centuries of the Common Era. It contains comprehensive information of trade and traders especially of maritime traders. Among 38 Avadānas, Eleven Avadānas ( 1, 2, 8, 18, 21, 23, 26, 33, 35, 36, 38) focus on the trade and traders. Two leaves of the Divyāvadāna (ff. 1v-2r), containing part of the Maitrakanyakāvadāna. Source: ana

11 Divyāvadāna Rudrāyaṇa Avadāna - Bhirukaccha was an important sea port town. Buddha has taught in another city called Surparaka, an important sea port of ancient India. It is called Supara or Sopara in the district of Thana in present India, which is 37 miles north of Bombay and about 4 miles north-west of Bassien. (Upreti, 26) Candraprabhabodhisattvacaryā-avadāna Chinese cloth had become quite popular in India and a trade link was established between the two countries following a demand of the cloth in Indian Market. (Upreti, 27)

12 Divyāvadāna Tamrapani has been identified with Ceylon. Another names for Tamrapani mentioned in the Divyāvadāna is Tamradvipa. Story of marriage between a native woman and a trader namely Simhala has been narrated in the text. The text tells us that from the name of Simhala Sarthavaha, who later on became the king of the Island of Tampradvipa, the island was named as Simhaladvipa. (Upreti, 27)

13 Divyāvadāna Maitrakanyaka-avadāna we find the merchants with various types of articles, equipments and requisites ready to set out on a maritime venture. (Upreti, 46)

14 Divyāvadāna The Divyāvadāna tells us of long-distance trade of textile products. The text refers to turmeric (pingala), species of rice (panduka) and cardamom (elapatra). From maritime trade the traders brought different kinds of gems. Kind of sandalwood the traders had to take lots of pain and even risk their lives as the forests of this type of sandalwood were guarded by the Yaksas. Island of the Jewel (ratnadvipa) -The gems were found in abundance like food items of daily use.

15 Divyāvadāna In the Pūrṇa-avadāna Entrepreneur who successfully challenged the monopolistic right of the trade guild of Surparaka to purchase all the commodities which were unloaded at the seaport of Surparaka. Again, some sarthavahas like Supriya preferred bringing all the articles acquired from maritime trade to the local markets on their own instead of selling them to a middle man. (Upreti, 48)

16 Divyāvadāna Maritime traders and long-distance inland traders had to face very grave dangers in the course of their journey. This made them susceptible to various types of superstitions. Some rituals were performed to avert the impending dangers. This ritual was followed by blessings from the elders.

17 Divyāvadāna The Dharmaruci-avadāna discusses about various types of sea dangers The tornadoes of fierceful nature. The proneness of some oceans and seas to whirlpool formation (Avarta) (Upreti, 49-50)

18 Bibliography Nariman, G. K., M. Winternitz, Sylvain Le vi, and Eduard Huber. Literary History of Sanskrit Buddhism (from Winternitz, Sylvain Levi, Huber). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, Cowell, Edward B., Robert Chalmers, W. H. D. Rouse, H. T. Francis, Robert Alexander Neil, and Charles Lang Freer. The Jātaka; Or, Stories of the Buddha's Former Births. Cambridge: University Press, Padma-chos-ʼphel, Deborah Black, and Ks emendra. Leaves of the Heaven Tree: The Great Compassion of the Buddha; [Translated by Deborah Black]. Berkeley, CA: Dharma Pub, Ks emendra, and Navi nachandra Dāsa. Legends and Miracles of Buddha, Sakya Sinha. Part I. Part I. Calcutta: Hare Press, Rotman, Andy. Divine stories Divya vada na. Boston: Wisdom Publications, Upreti, Kalpana. India As Reflected in the Divya vada na. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 1995.