The Tham Vessantara-jAtaka - Khamkoo

the night. 5 At school, JAtaka stories are meant to be compulsory reading. 6 When
Buddhist monks teach children in temples, JAtaka stories take a prominent place in
primary education. 7 Young novices are asked to read JAtaka stories aloud after the
midday meal in order that they may learn and read and teach effectively. 8
The influence of JAtakas on arts is found at the Northern Temple in Polonnaruva
and at Dimbulagala Temple, constructed about 1200 AD. 9 Most Kandyan paintings are
based on the JAtaka stories. They become the themes of the murals of Sri Lankan
temples. 10 The Degaldoruva murals are considered to be the outstanding examples of
this style of painting. 11 A scheme of JAtaka scenes similar to Bharhut can be examined
at LohapAsAda and at the great ThUpa built in Ceylon during the reign of King
DuTThagAminI. 12 The MahAvaMsa, the Great Chronicle of Ceylon, records an account
that when King DuTThagAminI who came to the throne around 160 BC built a nine
storeyed LohapAsAda as a residence for monks, scenes from various JAtaka stories were
painted on the walls. 13 Then again, when he built the great ThUpa at Anuradhapura,
many JAtaka scenes were depicted and he commanded that the VJ scenes be depicted
fully. 14 Scenes from JAtakas were sculptured in gold were found inside the cavity of
Ruwanveli pagoda which was built by King DuTThagAminI. 15
5
CuLLavaMsa XC, VV 80-87.
6
Harischandra, Psychiatric Aspects of JAtaka Stories, Intro. p.1.
7
Piyatissa, Buddhist Tales for young and old, Vol. II. Interpreter’s Intro, pp. xiv-xv.
8
Ibid. p. xv.
9
Nandadeva, Early Sinhalese Painting, pp, 48-49.
10
Harischandra, Psychiatric Aspects of JAtaka Stories, Foreword, p. v. by Atukorala. Atukorala further
confirmed that how Harischandra has shown clearly and succinctly that the JAtaka stories have helped in
the study, prevention and treatment of mental ill-health, from ancient times. It is true that the Buddha
preached JAtaka gAthAs to give advice or guidance as crisis intervention.
11
Siri Gunasinghe, An album of Buddhist paintings from Sri Lanka, p. 64.
12
CuLLavamsa XC, VV 80-87.
13
Geiger, The MahAvaMsa, pp. 182-186.
14
Ibid. pp. 206-207.
15
Harischandra, Psychiatric Aspects of JAtaka Stories, Intro, p. 23.
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