araka

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Araka

The Bodhisatta, born as a brahmin teacher. His story is told in the Araka Jātaka. He is referred to also in the Dhammaddhaja Jātaka (J.ii.195), where the Bodhisatta relates how, as Araka, he had developed thoughts of loving-kindness and practised the brahmavihārā for seven years and then was born in the Brahma-world.

His name appears again in the Anguttara Nikāya (A.iv.136-8) in a list of teachers, and we are told that among Araka’s pupils those who followed his teachings were born in the Brahma-world, while the others were born in various purgatories. In the Anguttara context no special mention is made of his having taught the brahma-vihāras.

Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names • G.P. Malalasekera