Academic Sutta Name Notes PSA Plae Vagga Nikaya PTS Keywords
J.433 Lomakassapa Jaataka The bodhisatva was once born as Kassapa, son of the chaplain to the king of Benares. He and the kingís son shared a teacher and became friends. When the prince became king, having no desire for power, Kassapa left him and became an ascetic. Because of the thick hair on his body, men called him Lomasakassapa. Sakka grew frightened of Kassapaís power, and wishing to destroy it, appeared before the king at midnight and suggested that if he could persuade Kassapa to offer a sacrifice of slain beasts, he should be king of the whole of India. The king sent his minister Sayha to fetch Kassapa, however, hearing the proposal, Kassapa refused to go. Next he was tempted by Candavatii the kingís daughter and changed his mind. The people gathered at the place of the sacrifice and tried to dissuade Kassapa from slaying animals, but he refused to listen. Many beasts were slain, and as he raised his sword to cut off the head of the royal elephant, the latter raised a cry and all the other animals joined the cacophany. Roused by the uproar, Kassapa remembered his asceticism and was filled with remorse. He admonished the king, and sitting cross-legged in the air, developed transcendental powers which enabled him to return to his hermitage. The Jataka was related to a passion-tossed monk. Sayha is identified with Sariputta. 59/684 Jaataka Khuddhaka J.iii.514ff. renunciation, temptation, sacrifice


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Last modified on: Sunday, 2 January 2000.