Anything Indian

Vol. No : 10026

Contents 
Jataka Tales: The Magic Chant  
Jataka Tales:The Giant and the Dwarf  
Priceless Gem: A Jataka Tale 

Description 
All living creatures die to be born again – so the Hindus believe. Siddhartha who became the Buddha was no exception. It is believed that several lifetimes as a Bodhisattva go into the making of the Buddha, the Enlightened one. 

The Bodhisattva has come in many forms – man, monkey, deer, elephant and lion. Whatever his mortal body, he has spread the message of justice and wisdom tempered with compassion. This wisdom of right thinking and right living is preserved in the Jataka tales. 

These tales are based on the folklore, legends and ballads of ancient India. We cannot assign a definite date to the Jataka stories. Taking into account archaeological and literary evidence, it appears that they were compiled in the period between the third century BC and the fifth century AD. They give us invaluable information about ancient Indian civilization, culture and philosophy.