In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

One of the four sons of the Naga king Dhatarattha and his queen Samuddaja, the others being Sudassana, Bhuridatta and Subhaga. When Kanarittha heard that his mother was a human, wishing to test her one day while drinking her milk, he assumed a serpents form and struck her foot with his tail. Samuddaja threw him on to the ground with a shriek and accidentally struck his eye with her nail, thereby blinding him. Henceforth he, whose name had been Arittha, was known as Kanarittha (J.vi.168). When, after Bhuridattas disappearance (see Bhuridatta Jataka) from the Naga world, his brothers set out to search for him, Kanarittha was sent to the world of the gods, for he was so cruel by nature that they knew that if he went to the world of men he would destroy it by fire (J.vi.190). When, after his search, he returned to the Naga world, he was appointed doorkeeper of Bhuridattas sick room; there, seeing Subhaga dragging a brahmin roughly into the Naga world, he prevented him from ill treating the man and told him of the greatness of all brahmins, illustrating his words with various stories (J.vi.197; details see pp.200ff). It is said that in his immediately preceding birth, he had been a brahmin, well versed in sacrificial lore. Bhuridatta heard (from his bed) Aritthas undue praise of brahmins and refuted his statements (J.vi.205ff).

Kanarittha is identified with Sunakkhatta (J.vi.219).

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Full-text: Malagiri, Arittha, Dhatarattha, Bhuridatta Jataka.

Relevant text

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