Halo'd Triumphs: Stories and Meaning of Jayamangala Attha Gatha Verses of Victory

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Late Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita was the founder-president of Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru. Since 1956 he had established many Buddhist centres in India and abroad and rendered yeomen spiritual and humanitarian services. He was a member of the Editorial Board of the Sixth Buddhist Synod (Chattha Sangayana) in Yangon, which brought out a complete edition of the Buddhist scriptures.
He established Mahabodhi Monastic Institute in Bangalore, India, Buddhayoga Meditation Centre in USA and conducted many Dhamma and Pali courses, meditation courses and written numerous books and translation of Buddhist texts. Mahabodhi Research Center and Bhagavan Buddha University of Pali and Theravada Buddhism, Bangalore are the result of his effort and research to provide a systematic Buddhist education as widely as possible.

The victory of the Buddha under the Tree of Enlightenment was the victory over all kinds of defilements, cankers, kamma and negative forces. This great victorious event in the history of mankind heralded a new era in the world of spirituality. That was the moment when a Buddha arose in this universe out of compassion for all beings. The arising of the Buddha also means arising of more and more victorious individuals, because through his dhamma countless beings were liberated and are still liberated from sufferings of the samsara.
Jayamangala Attha Gatha is one of the most beloved chants for Theravada Buddhists, which enumerates eight episodes of Supreme Buddha's victories. In the life of the Buddha everyday there used to be several interesting events transforming the minds of people, devas and other higher divinities. Change of heart among so many beings from ignorance to wisdom, from bondage to freedom, from involvement to enlightenment, was no mean achievement. It came from the Desana Kosalla - Skillful Methods of Teaching by the Buddha.
Supremely Enlightened Buddha is also the Embodiment of Wisdom and Virtues and so also Peerless Teacher of Gods and Men. He poured the nectar of Dhamma everyday under so many different circumstances. They are countless. But in this chant eight episodes are recollected.
These eight episodes clearly show the greatness of the Buddha- state, which is beyond all planes of existence. The Nalagiri story shows how the Lord could win over the animals and then Alavaka episode shows about how he could win even the fierce demons. Among humans Angulimala represents physical and mental strength, Cincă crooked and selfish minds, Saccaka high perverted intelligence. The Buddha could overcome all these. Nandopananda, a Naga, under the Catummaharajika king of Western direction, Virupakkha, with immense psychic power was nowhere near, even to the disciple of the Buddha, Venerable Maha Moggallana. The most powerful of all divine beings in Kämaloka, Sense Sphere, is the Mära deva himself who attacked the Bodhisatta with all his armies. But even as Bodhisatta, before enlightenment the Buddha overcame him by sheer power of paramis, spiritual perfections. Then Brahma, who is believed to be and worshiped as creator of the worlds too was defeated by the wisdom of the Buddha. He belongs to Rupaloka, Form Sphere.