Introduction to Buddhacharita

Introduction to Buddhacharita

• Buddhacharita, a Sanskrit epic poem, details the life of Gautama Buddha.
• The poem is in the Mahakavya style.
• The author was Asvaghosa of Savatthi (modern Ayodhya).
• It was composed in the early 2nd century CE.
• The work stands out through its artistic arrangement and portrayal of miracles surrounding Gautama Buddha.
• It showcases the author's deep knowledge of Indian mythology and pre-Buddhist philosophies, and interest in war and statecraft.

Summary of Poem's Contents

• Only 14 of the 28 cantos of the poem are fully extant in Sanskrit.
• The remaining cantos (15-28) survive incomplete.
• Chinese and Tibetan translations preserve the complete 28 chapters.
• The Chinese translation was completed in 420 AD.
• The Tibetan translation was completed in the 7th or 8th centuries.
• The Tibetan translation is considered closer to the original Sanskrit.

Siddhartha Gautama: The Buddha

• Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, was a religious teacher.
• He lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE.
• According to Buddhist legends, he was born to royal parents in Lumbini (present-day Nepal).
• Despite his privileged upbringing, he renounced his life and became a wandering ascetic in search of enlightenment.
• After years of asceticism, meditation, and mendicancy, he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya (modern India).
• Following his enlightenment, the Buddha traveled through the Indo-Gangetic Plain, teaching and establishing a monastic order.

The Buddha's Teachings

• The Buddha's teachings center on the Middle Way, a path of moderation between sensual indulgence and severe asceticism.
• His core teachings are encapsulated in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Transmission and Legacy

• After the Buddha's death, his teachings, collected in the Vinaya, Suttapitaka, and Abhidharma, were initially passed down orally.
• They were compiled by followers into various sets of texts.
• Over time, these texts were further developed and expanded upon.
• The Buddhacharita plays a significant role in shaping Buddhist hagiography.
• The work has inspired countless commentaries and adaptations across various languages and cultures.
• The poem's key elements include stories like the birth of the Buddha, his renunciation and enlightenment, his teachings, miraculous events, and the final stages of his life.

Key Features of Buddhacharita

• The poem is part of the ancient Indian tradition.
• It gives a comprehensive account of the Buddha's life, from conception to Parinirvana.
• It includes the essence of his teachings and the profound impact on Buddhist followers.
• Its themes encompass renunciation and enlightenment, compassion and wisdom, miracles and legends..

Explore the intricacies of Buddhacharita, the epic poem detailing the life of Gautama Buddha, composed by Asvaghosa in the 2nd century CE. This quiz covers the poem's structure, its surviving chapters, and its significance in Indian literature and philosophy.