Mahāvastu
Scholars date the Mahāvastu to a period spanning from the 2nd century BCE through the 4th century CE. J.J. Jones wrote in 1949 that this text was not composed by a single author during one specific time. Instead, it emerged as a compilation begun in the second century B.C. and finished only in the third or fourth century A.D. This multi-century process created layers of text that reflect different historical moments. The work grew slowly over hundreds of years rather than appearing fully formed at once.
The Mahāvastu opens with two prologues known as nidānas. One section dates to around the 3rd century CE while another part comes from approximately the 1st century CE. Over half of the entire text consists of Jātaka and Avadāna tales describing earlier lives of the Buddha and other bodhisattvas. Four sections contain texts belonging to the Bahubuddhaka sūtra genre which narrate stories of past Buddhas. These narratives often served as sources for Buddhist doctrines relating to the bodhisattva path. Parallel examples of such sutras have been found in Gandharan Buddhist text collections dating back to the 1st century BCE.
This text serves as a primary source for the notion of a transcendent Buddha common to all Mahāsāgika schools. According to the Mahāvastu, the human-born Buddha developed supramundane abilities over many lives. He conceived without intercourse and experienced a painless birth. The text claims he required no sleep, food, medicine or bathing even though he engaged in these activities in conformity with the world. Scholars note that some Theravadin Bhikkhu Telwatte Rahula concluded his study by stating the depiction is not vastly different from the Pali Canon because docetic ideas are not widely present throughout the work.
The Nidānanamaskāras prologue introduced a doctrine regarding four phases of the bodhisattva career. These stages include Natural prakriti-carya where one plants roots of merit before a Buddha. Resolution prañidhāna-carya marks the moment when someone makes their first resolution to attain Buddhahood. Continuing anuloma-carya describes practice until meeting a Buddha who confirms future Buddhahood. Irreversible anivartana-carya represents the stage where one cannot fall back. A later addition called Daśabhūmika was grafted into the Mahāvastu during the last period of textual formation around the 4th to 6th centuries CE.
The Mahāvastu's Jātaka tales resemble those found in the Pali Canon despite significant differences in details. Other parts show direct parallels including passages from the Digha Nikaya and Majjhima Nikaya. Specific chapters align with texts like the Khuddakapātha and the Dhammapada chapter eight known as Sahassa Vagga. The Sutta Nipata contains matching sections such as Sn 1.3 and Sn 3.1. Two incomplete chapters from another Dharmapada survive within the Mahāvastu text itself. One chapter is named Sahasravarga while the other selection comes from an unnamed Bhikşuvarga.
Émile Senart published the first Western edition between 1882 and 1897. This editio princeps appeared in a language termed Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit by scholars. J.J. Jones produced an English translation released across three volumes from 1949 to 1956 under the Sacred Books of the Buddhists series. The London publisher Luzac & Co. issued these volumes. Later scholarship by Vincent Tournier examined the formation process and placement of bodhisattva career concepts within the text during the early 2000s.
Common questions
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.
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.