Aruna
1. Aruna.- A warriror (khattiya), father of SikhÄ« Buddha and husband of PabhÄvatÄ« (Bu.xxi.15; J.i.41; AA.i.436). Aruna’s chief queen became the TherÄ« AbhayÄ in the present age (ThigA.41). Another of his wives became, in her last life, the TherÄ« SomÄ (ThigA.66), who is perhaps to be identified with UppaladÄyikÄ of the ApadÄna (Ap.ii.601f). In the Samyutta NikÄya (S.i.155) he is called ArunavÄ.
2. Aruna.- The Assaka king of Potali in the Assaka country. (In the main story the king’s name is given as Assaka, but the scholiast says his real name was Aruna). The KÄlinga king of that time, longing for a fight, but finding no one willing to accept his challenge, at last devised a plan. He sent his four beautiful daughters, in a covered carriage and with an armed escort to the various cities in the neighbourhood, proclaiming that any king, who took them as wives, would have to fight their father. No one was found willing to take the risk till they came to Potali in the Assaka country. Even the Assaka king at first merely sent them a present by way of courtesy, but his minister, Nandisena, fertile in expedients, urged the king to marry them, saying that he himself would undertake to face the consequences. The KÄlinga king at once set out with his army. On his way to Potali, he came across the Bodhisatta, who was leading the ascetic life and, without revealing his identity, consulted him regarding his chances of success in the fight. The Bodhisatta promised that he would see Sakka about it the next day and, having done so, informed the king that the KÄlinga forces would win. Nandisena heard of this prophecy but, nothing daunted, he gathered together the Assaka forces and all their allies; then, by a well-planned manoeuvre, he managed to have the tutelary deity of KÄlinga (who was fighting for the KÄlinga king) killed by Assaka. Thereupon the KÄlinga king was routed and fled. The Bodhisatta, finding that his prophecy had turned out false, sought Sakka in his distress; Sakka consoled him thus: “Hast thou never heard that even the gods favour the bold hero of intrepid resolve, who never yields?â€
Later, at the suggestion of Nandisena, the Assaka king demanded of KÄlinga’s ruler dowry for his four daughters, and the KÄlinga king acceded to his request. The story is told in the KÄlinga JÄtaka (J.iii.3ff.).
3. Aruna.- The pleasaunce near Anupama where the Buddha Vessabhu first taught his chief disciples, Sona and Uttara. Bu.xxii.22, BuA.205.
4. Aruna.- The name of the lotus that grows in the NÄga world. It was one of UppalavannÄ’s wishes to have a body of the colour of the Aruna-lotus. Ap.ii.554(v.39).
5. Aruna.- A class of devas present at the teaching of the MahÄsamaya Sutta. They were of diverse hue, of wondrous gifts, mighty powers, comely and with splendid following. D.ii.260.
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