Supriya Sarthavaha Jataka is the thirty-second chapter of the Bhadrakalpavadana, a Sanskrit Buddhist Avadana text, presumed as belonging to in-between the third and sixth cent. A.D.
This volume endeavors to present in a critically edited from the text which has the essence of religio-moral teaching of Buddhism in all its significance.
A close study of the text brings to light the various significant and interesting social customs and practices, religious beliefs of the people, family tradition, life style of the common people like artisans, cultivators, traders, thieves and others; performance of rituals for appeasing evil situations, worship of Gods and Goddesses who came in rescue to those who seek divine help and, last but not least, the most important one, the disposal of the dead by burning, ie. Agnisamskara.
In this way it contains unique situations close to the central theme and bears a resemblance with the Suparaga Jataka (story no. 14) of Aryasura's Jatakamala and Badaradvipayatravadana of Ksemendra's Bodhisattvavadanakalpalata. The expressions are unique in the sense that they make the theme more interesting and add a new dimension in respect of social perspective replete with common problems for which Supriya, the Bodhisattva, the compassionate one, tried to explore a path.
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