We are pleased to announce the next installment of our Indian Literature Lecture Series, featuring Dr. Deepak K. Nair. This time, Dr. Nair will focus on the Jataka Tales and their role in promoting virtues through stories of the Buddha’s previous births.

Lecture Title:  

The Jatakas: Inculcating Virtues through Tales of Previous Births of the Buddha

Date & Time:  

14.10.2024, Monday, 13:30

Location:  

Öğrenci Merkezi Hy-Flex 09, Zoom

Zoom Link:  

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84098206467?pwd=ahnHNGJcVjuJA7CQsw2Zb7NsMbbbUB.1

Meeting ID: 840 9820 6467  

Passcode: 048856

Abstract:  

The Jataka Tales form part of the Khuddaka Nikaya under the Sutta Pitaka. These stories, recounting the previous lives of the Buddha as a Bodhisattva in human or animal form, emphasize core Buddhist teachings and are intended to cultivate moral virtues. While originally aimed at both monastics and laypeople, the influence of the Jatakas has spread far beyond Buddhist circles, even finding echoes in Western and Islamic literary traditions, including the works of Boccaccio, Ibn Mukaffa,  Chaucer, and Shakespeare. Dr. Nair will use select Jataka as case studies to examine how these tales functioned in their original context and how they continue to resonate across time and culture.

Speaker Bio:  

Dr. Deepak K. Nair is a renowned scholar with expertise in Ancient History and Archaeology. He completed his Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University and has published widely on topics including ancient ceramics, Indian Ocean trade, and Indian art and architecture. Dr. Nair currently serves as Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of History at R.N.A.R. College, L.N. Mithila University, Bihar.

We look forward to seeing you at the lecture! Feel free to share the event with others who might be interested.