The Bodhisattva has come in many forms -man, monkey, deer, elephant, lion. Whatever his mortal body, he has spread the message of justice and wisdom, tempered with compassion. This wisdom, of right thinking and right living, is preserved in the Jataka tales.
These tales are based on the folklore, legends and ballads of ancient India. We cannot assign a definite date to the Jataka stories. Taking into account archaeological and literary evidence it appears that they were compiled, in the period the third century B. C. to the fifth century A. D. They have given us invaluable information about ancient Indian civilization, culture and philosophy.
According to the Maha Ummagga Jataka, the Bodhisattva was once born as Aushadha Kumar who was endowed with celestial knowledge and superhuman powers. The present issue of Amar Chitra Katha presents the second set of the tales connected with Aushadha Kumar.
The first title, The Battle of Wits, presented the tales connected with the childhood of Aushadha Kumar. This issue presents stories of Aushadha Kumar at the court of Mithila.
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