Ashwaghosh’s <i>Sundarananda</i>: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist

Keshav Raj Chalise

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17

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Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist

Keshav Raj Chalise

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 8, Issue 6)

Received: 12 November 2020 Accepted: 27 November 2020 Published: 16 December 2020

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Abstract

Sundarananda, the Sanskrit epic on the Buddhist theme of Moksha and Nirvana, has become a trendsetter in the epic writing in Sanskrit and Nepali. Hindu born poet and philosopher, Ashwaghosh has composed this text after his deep-rooted impression on Buddhism. The epic has the narrative on how Buddha’s half brother, Nanda has undergone the severe practice for Moksha. He has adopted his family life, he has the close affiliation to the worldly things and he appears to be closely inclined to the material world. Buddha, not as a person, but as a philosophy or a practice, has provided him a pathway to the mode of liberation from the worldly life. At the beginning, Nanda is a common man, but by the end of the epic, he has got transition from the physical to the mode of unworldly realization. The whole epic describes his different steps of transition, dilemma between worldly and unworldly, confusion between love to life and love to beyond, and ultimately gives his successive transformation into the point of physically liberated life on earth. This study examines how he has made a resourceful transition from the physical love to the love beyond. Also, it raises some typical questions on the Buddhist negation of the material world, suffering and the debate on rebirth with the close observation on the relationship between body and mind, and ‘being’ and ‘non-being’. Sundarananda, not as a pure Buddhist text in this study, but as a literary creation, has adopted the lessons of Buddhism and at the same time, it has opened the discussion of existing for not to exist. The epic has provided a strong platform to interpret the text as a Buddhist quest for the non-existence through the existence.

Published in	International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17
Page(s)	349-355
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Worldly, Suffering, Liberation, Dharma, Rebirth, Supreme Being

References

[1]	Ashwaghosh. (2016). Sundaryanandam Mahakavyam. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Surabharati Publication.
[2]	Cross, M. (Trans). (2015). Buddhacharita and Saundaryananda.
[3]	Wilson, L. (2004). “Body, Perspective on the.” Encyclopedia to Buddhism. Ed. Robert E. Buswell. Vol I. New york: Thomson Gale.
[4]	Edelglass, W, & Garfield, J. L. (2009). “Philosophy of Mind and the Person”. Buddhist Philosophy: Essential Readings. eds. William Edelglass and Jay L. Garfield. New York: Oxford UP.
[5]	Gomez, L. O. (2004). “Meditation” Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Ed. Robert E. Buswell. Vol I. New york: Thomson Gale.
[6]	Bronkhrost, J. (2004). “Mindfulness”. Encyclopedia to Buddhism. Ed. Robert E. Buswell. Vol I. New york: Thomson Gale.
[7]	Cuevas, B. J. (2004). “Rebirth”. Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Ed. Robert E. Buswell. Vol I. New york: Thomson Gale.
[8]	Holdrege, B. A. (1998). “Body in Hindu Discourse”. International Journal of Hindu Studies 2. 3. the World Heritage Press Inc, December.
[9]	Bhagavad Gita. (Trans). (2018). Swami Gambhirananda. Kolkata: Advaita Ashram.
[10]	Reat, N. R. (1977). “Karma and Rebirth in Upanishad and Buddhism”. Numen. 24. 3. December.
[11]	Buswell, R. E. (2004). “Doubt”. Encyclopedia to Buddhism. Ed. Robert E. Buswell. Vol I. New york: Thomson Gale.
[12]	Siderits, Mark. (2016). Studies in Buddhist Philosophy. Ed. Jan Westerhoff. UK: Oxford Up.
[13]	Davis, L. S. (2010). Advaita Vedanta and Zen Buddhism. New York & London: Continuum.
[14]	Suzuki, D. T. (1999). The LanikāvatāraSūtra, trans. Suzuki, D. T., Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi.
[15]	Harvey, P. (2018). “The Central Place of the Ideas of Karma and Rebirth in Buddhist Thought”. Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics. eds. Daniel Cozort, & James Mark Shields. UK: Oxford UP.
[16]	Laumakis, S. J. (2008). An Introduction to Buddhist Philosophy. New York: Cambridge UP.

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Keshav Raj Chalise. (2020). Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 8(6), 349-355. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17

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Keshav Raj Chalise. Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2020, 8(6), 349-355. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17

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Keshav Raj Chalise. Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist. Int J Lit Arts. 2020;8(6):349-355. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17,
  author = {Keshav Raj Chalise},
  title = {Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {349-355},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20200806.17},
  abstract = {Sundarananda, the Sanskrit epic on the Buddhist theme of Moksha and Nirvana, has become a trendsetter in the epic writing in Sanskrit and Nepali. Hindu born poet and philosopher, Ashwaghosh has composed this text after his deep-rooted impression on Buddhism. The epic has the narrative on how Buddha’s half brother, Nanda has undergone the severe practice for Moksha. He has adopted his family life, he has the close affiliation to the worldly things and he appears to be closely inclined to the material world. Buddha, not as a person, but as a philosophy or a practice, has provided him a pathway to the mode of liberation from the worldly life. At the beginning, Nanda is a common man, but by the end of the epic, he has got transition from the physical to the mode of unworldly realization. The whole epic describes his different steps of transition, dilemma between worldly and unworldly, confusion between love to life and love to beyond, and ultimately gives his successive transformation into the point of physically liberated life on earth. This study examines how he has made a resourceful transition from the physical love to the love beyond. Also, it raises some typical questions on the Buddhist negation of the material world, suffering and the debate on rebirth with the close observation on the relationship between body and mind, and ‘being’ and ‘non-being’. Sundarananda, not as a pure Buddhist text in this study, but as a literary creation, has adopted the lessons of Buddhism and at the same time, it has opened the discussion of existing for not to exist. The epic has provided a strong platform to interpret the text as a Buddhist quest for the non-existence through the existence.},
 year = {2020}
}

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T1  - Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist
AU  - Keshav Raj Chalise
Y1  - 2020/12/16
PY  - 2020
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T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 349
EP  - 355
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17
AB  - Sundarananda, the Sanskrit epic on the Buddhist theme of Moksha and Nirvana, has become a trendsetter in the epic writing in Sanskrit and Nepali. Hindu born poet and philosopher, Ashwaghosh has composed this text after his deep-rooted impression on Buddhism. The epic has the narrative on how Buddha’s half brother, Nanda has undergone the severe practice for Moksha. He has adopted his family life, he has the close affiliation to the worldly things and he appears to be closely inclined to the material world. Buddha, not as a person, but as a philosophy or a practice, has provided him a pathway to the mode of liberation from the worldly life. At the beginning, Nanda is a common man, but by the end of the epic, he has got transition from the physical to the mode of unworldly realization. The whole epic describes his different steps of transition, dilemma between worldly and unworldly, confusion between love to life and love to beyond, and ultimately gives his successive transformation into the point of physically liberated life on earth. This study examines how he has made a resourceful transition from the physical love to the love beyond. Also, it raises some typical questions on the Buddhist negation of the material world, suffering and the debate on rebirth with the close observation on the relationship between body and mind, and ‘being’ and ‘non-being’. Sundarananda, not as a pure Buddhist text in this study, but as a literary creation, has adopted the lessons of Buddhism and at the same time, it has opened the discussion of existing for not to exist. The epic has provided a strong platform to interpret the text as a Buddhist quest for the non-existence through the existence.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Keshav Raj Chalise

Department of English, Nepal Sanskrit University, Kalika Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Gaindakot, Nepal

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Keshav Raj Chalise. (2020). Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 8(6), 349-355. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17

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ACS Style

Keshav Raj Chalise. Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2020, 8(6), 349-355. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17

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AMA Style

Keshav Raj Chalise. Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist. Int J Lit Arts. 2020;8(6):349-355. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17,
  author = {Keshav Raj Chalise},
  title = {Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {349-355},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20200806.17},
  abstract = {Sundarananda, the Sanskrit epic on the Buddhist theme of Moksha and Nirvana, has become a trendsetter in the epic writing in Sanskrit and Nepali. Hindu born poet and philosopher, Ashwaghosh has composed this text after his deep-rooted impression on Buddhism. The epic has the narrative on how Buddha’s half brother, Nanda has undergone the severe practice for Moksha. He has adopted his family life, he has the close affiliation to the worldly things and he appears to be closely inclined to the material world. Buddha, not as a person, but as a philosophy or a practice, has provided him a pathway to the mode of liberation from the worldly life. At the beginning, Nanda is a common man, but by the end of the epic, he has got transition from the physical to the mode of unworldly realization. The whole epic describes his different steps of transition, dilemma between worldly and unworldly, confusion between love to life and love to beyond, and ultimately gives his successive transformation into the point of physically liberated life on earth. This study examines how he has made a resourceful transition from the physical love to the love beyond. Also, it raises some typical questions on the Buddhist negation of the material world, suffering and the debate on rebirth with the close observation on the relationship between body and mind, and ‘being’ and ‘non-being’. Sundarananda, not as a pure Buddhist text in this study, but as a literary creation, has adopted the lessons of Buddhism and at the same time, it has opened the discussion of existing for not to exist. The epic has provided a strong platform to interpret the text as a Buddhist quest for the non-existence through the existence.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Ashwaghosh’s Sundarananda: Transition from the Physical to the Liberation- Existing Not to Exist
AU  - Keshav Raj Chalise
Y1  - 2020/12/16
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 349
EP  - 355
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20200806.17
AB  - Sundarananda, the Sanskrit epic on the Buddhist theme of Moksha and Nirvana, has become a trendsetter in the epic writing in Sanskrit and Nepali. Hindu born poet and philosopher, Ashwaghosh has composed this text after his deep-rooted impression on Buddhism. The epic has the narrative on how Buddha’s half brother, Nanda has undergone the severe practice for Moksha. He has adopted his family life, he has the close affiliation to the worldly things and he appears to be closely inclined to the material world. Buddha, not as a person, but as a philosophy or a practice, has provided him a pathway to the mode of liberation from the worldly life. At the beginning, Nanda is a common man, but by the end of the epic, he has got transition from the physical to the mode of unworldly realization. The whole epic describes his different steps of transition, dilemma between worldly and unworldly, confusion between love to life and love to beyond, and ultimately gives his successive transformation into the point of physically liberated life on earth. This study examines how he has made a resourceful transition from the physical love to the love beyond. Also, it raises some typical questions on the Buddhist negation of the material world, suffering and the debate on rebirth with the close observation on the relationship between body and mind, and ‘being’ and ‘non-being’. Sundarananda, not as a pure Buddhist text in this study, but as a literary creation, has adopted the lessons of Buddhism and at the same time, it has opened the discussion of existing for not to exist. The epic has provided a strong platform to interpret the text as a Buddhist quest for the non-existence through the existence.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

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