Development of the Pārichāt Tree in Buddhism

Abstract

This academic article aims to study the development of the Pārichāt tree in Buddhism. The study found. The story of the Pārichāt tree in the Tipitaka to related the Buddha in 3 events: 1) The Buddha went to please Uruvela Kassapa. 2) The Buddha compared his noble disciples to the Pārichāt tree. 3) A metaphorical description of living like a graceful Erythrina variegate Linn, living alone in the forest. As for Buddhist literature, three stories are found that describe the Pārichāt tree: 1) Tebhumikatha 2) Pathamasambodhikatha 3) Kamanita-Vasitthi. These three works of literature give different importance to the Pārichāt tree. The development of the Pārichāt tree that appears in early Buddhist literature in the Tripitaka is found. It is a comparison of the Pārichāt tree and the abandonment of the defilements in order to reach Nirvana. Later, in the literary works Tebhumikatha and Pathamasambodhikatha, importance was given to the Parijat tree as the place where the Buddha preached his Abhidhamma to his mother. As time passed, the Parijat tree was only used as a symbol of the realm of the Thirty-three Gods heaven. But in later Buddhist literature, it is found that the story of the Pārichāt tree has been expanded to include miracles. Especially in the literature on Kamanita-Vasitthi.