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14. THE CONCEPT OF AVATARS
The Ghata-Jâtaka (Pali Jataka No.454 ) gives an account of Krishna's childhood and subsequent exploits which in many points corresponds with the Brahmanic legends of his life and contains several familiar incidents, titles and names, such as Vasudeva (War Hero), Baladeva ( Diplomatic Hero), Kamsa. He is presented here are a son of Devagarbha and Upasagar. He is said to have killed Kamsa and his two wrestlers Chanur and Mustik. The story also ends with the total destruction of the Vasudeva and his clas Vrishni. Buddhas disciple Sariputta was also a Vasudeva. It also refers to the weapon of Charkra of Krishna. It tells the story of how, when Vasudeva's son died and Vasudeva gave himself up to despair, and how his brother Ghatapandita brought him to his senses by feigning madness. Vāsudeva's minister was Rohineyya. Vāsudeva is addressed (J.iv.84; he is called Kanha at J.vi.421) as Kanha and again as Kesava. These names, however, are supposed to give support to the theory that the story of Vasudeva was associated with the legend of Krsna.
The scholiast explains (J.iv.84) that he is called Kanha because he belonged to the Kanhāyanagotta, and Kesava because he had beautiful hair (kesasobhanatāya).
In the Mahāummagga Jataka (J.vi.421) it is stated that Jambāvati, mother of King Sivi, was the consort of Vasudeva Kanha. The scholiast identifies this Vasudeva with the eldest of the Andhakavenhudāsaputtă, and says that Jambāvati was a candali. Vāsudeva fell in love with her because of her great beauty and married her in spite of her caste. Their son was Sivi, who later succeeded to his father's throne at Dvāravati. These stories however does not support the theory that this is Krishna of Mahabharata. Vasudeva is identified with Sāriputta. J.iv.89. It is certain that those names were very common by that time. Evidently the name Vasudeva and Kesava were common names by that time. So was the name Kanha.
Kanha occurs in several places in the Pali traditions including: 1. Kanha.-A name for Māra. E.g., Sn.v.355; M.1.377; D.ii.262; Thag.v.1189. 2. Kanha. The name of the Bodhisatta; he was born in a brahmin family and later became a sage. He is also called Kanha-tāpasa, and is mentioned among those the memory of whose lives caused the Buddha to smile. See Kanha Jātaka (2). DhsA.294, 426. 3. Kanha.-Another name of Vasudeva (J.iv. 84, 86; vi.421; PvA.94ff); the scholiast explains that he belonged to the Kanhāyanagotta. 4. Kanha.-Son of Disā, a slave girl of Okkāka. He was called Kanha because he was black and, like a devil (kanha), spoke as soon as he was born. He was the ancestor of the Kanhāyanagotta (D.1.93). Later he went into the Dekkhan and, having learnt mystic verses, became a mighty seer. Coming back to Okkāka, Kanha demanded the hand of the king's daughter Maddarūpi.
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