Once a Peacock, Once an Actress - Twenty-Four Lives of the Bodhisattva from Haribhatta's "Jatakamala" (Hardcover)

Written in Kashmir around 400 CE, Haribhatta's Jatakamala is a remarkable example of classical Sanskrit literature in a mixture of prose and verse that for centuries was known only in its Tibetan translation. But between 1973 and 2004 a large portion of the Sanskrit original was rediscovered in a number of anonymous manuscripts. With this volume Peter Khoroche offers the most complete translation to date, making almost eighty per cent of the work available in English. Haribhatta's Jatakamala is a sophisticated and personal adaptation of popular stories, mostly non-Buddhist in origin, all illustrating the future Buddha's single-minded devotion to the good of all creatures, and his desire, no matter what his incarnation man, woman, peacock, elephant, merchant or king to assist others on the path to nirvana. Haribhatta's insight into human and animal behaviour, his astonishing eye for the details of landscape and his fine descriptive powers together make this a unique record of everyday life in ancient India as well as a powerful statement of Buddhist ethics. This translation will be a landmark in the study of Buddhism and of the culture of ancient India.

General

Imprint:	University of Chicago Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	August 2017
Translators:	Peter Khoroche
Authors:	Hari Bhatta
Dimensions:	22 x 15 x 2mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Cloth over boards
Pages:	288
ISBN-13:	978-0-226-48582-9
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Literature: history & criticism > General Promotions
LSN:	0-226-48582-X
Barcode:	9780226485829

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!