When was the Mahāvastu text written?
Scholars date the Mahāvastu to a period spanning from the 2nd century BCE through the 4th century CE. The compilation began in the second century B.C. and finished only in the third or fourth century A.D.
Questions about Mahāvastu
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the content of the Mahāvastu prologues?
The Mahāvastu opens with two prologues known as nidānas where one section dates to around the 3rd century CE while another part comes from approximately the 1st century CE. These sections introduce doctrines regarding four phases of the bodhisattva career including Natural prakriti-carya, Resolution prañidhāna-carya, Continuing anuloma-carya, and Irreversible anivartana-carya.
Who published the first Western edition of the Mahāvastu?
Émile Senart published the first Western edition between 1882 and 1897. This editio princeps appeared in a language termed Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit by scholars.
How does the Mahāvastu describe the nature of the Buddha?
According to the Mahāvastu, the human-born Buddha developed supramundane abilities over many lives and conceived without intercourse. He experienced a painless birth and required no sleep, food, medicine or bathing even though he engaged in these activities in conformity with the world.
Which texts contain parallel examples found within the Mahāvastu?
Parallel examples of such sutras have been found in Gandharan Buddhist text collections dating back to the 1st century BCE. Specific chapters align with texts like the Khuddakapātha and the Dhammapada chapter eight known as Sahassa Vagga while the Sutta Nipata contains matching sections such as Sn 1.3 and Sn 3.1.