A Critical Analysis of Morality in Gandhāra Jataka

Abstract

The paper details the archaeological, palaeographic, and literary evidence for origin and evolution of Jataka in the Greater Gandhāra region. It argues that Gandhāra Jataka have been discussed and analysed by a number of scholars in past; nonetheless the scholarly literature attending to the moral significance of Gandhāra Jataka is not fulfilling. The present paper attempts to critically analyse the moral messages of love and kindness towards parents, sacrifice for others and generosity, and compares them among Buddhist, Chinese, Greek ethical philosophies and modern psycho-social theories. It details the Śyama Jataka for love and adoration of parents and weighs it against the similar virtues in Confucius, Plutarch and Aristotle doctrines. It further elaborates the case of Mahasattva and Viśvantara Jatakas for their moral messages of generosity, charity and gift giving, and compares them with Aristotle’s virtue ethics and modern psycho-social theories. The paper concludes that moral education reduces violence and promotes peace and harmony in the society. Love and respect to parents and other elders of the family; sacrifice, generosity and charity result in cooperation, contentment and peaceful environment in the society. The major recommendations of the paper include an urgent acknowledgement of Gandhāra Jataka as a National cultural heritage and to translate them in National and regional languages.