Buddhist traditions, Nivedita and Coomaraswamy
Six-Tusked Elephant
The Buddha-elect is born among a great herd living by a Himalayan lake, cave and banyan tree. His two wives receive different experiences beneath a shaken tree, and a later lotus gift intensifies one wife’s sense of exclusion. The conclusion connects the ivory tusks with memory of the elephant husband and grief at the consequences of resentment. In a later life the woman recognises her past conduct while hearing the Buddha teach.
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In the sources
Principal account
TraditionalThe Buddha-elect is born among a great herd living by a Himalayan lake, cave and banyan tree. His two wives receive different experiences beneath a shaken tree, and a later lotus gift intensifies one wife’s sense of exclusion.
Further detail
TraditionalThe conclusion connects the ivory tusks with memory of the elephant husband and grief at the consequences of resentment. In a later life the woman recognises her past conduct while hearing the Buddha teach.
Context & interpretation
The entry follows the six-tusked-elephant Jataka retelling in the collection. It keeps previous and later lives within the story’s rebirth framework, rather than treating the ivory objects as separately documented historical artefacts.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
conceived a grudge against the Great BeingOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 306
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0306
- Original scan leaf
- 306
- Recorded leaf number
- 306
- Current Reader position
- 297
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists
the cause of his death only because of a fancied slightOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists (1914), active reader leaf 311
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0109-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0109-E001-P0311
- Original scan leaf
- 311
- Recorded leaf number
- 311
- Current Reader position
- 302
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Bodhisattva
The Buddha-elect whose long preparation joins sacrifice to the power to enlighten others.
Shared source pageJataka Tales
Stories of previous births in which the Buddha-to-be develops his dedication.
Same subject and traditionHare in the Moon
The generous hare whose image Sakra places on the moon after testing his resolve.
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The prince’s horse, whose silent departure carries the seeker out of the guarded city.