This is the story of a well-bred man from a good family, fallen into evil ways of robbery.One day, when he is about to slay a monk, he is surprised by the monk's calmness under danger. The encounter leads him to Buddha's teachings of compassion and he becomes a transformed man.Some survivors of Angulimala's earlier life seek revenge and attack him. Even so, he does not let ill feelings rise and with his mind fully at peace, he breathes his last. Buddha praised him for conquering vice, cruelty and anger.
Anant Pai popularly known as Uncle Pai, was an Indian educationalist and creator of Indian comics, in particular the Amar Chitra Katha series in 1967, along with the India Book House publishers, and which retold traditional Indian folk tales, mythological stories, and biographies of historical characters. In 1980, he launched Tinkle, a children's anthology, which was started under Rang Rekha Features, India's first comic and cartoon syndicate, that lasted till 1998, with him as the Managing Director.
Today, Amar Chitra Katha sells about three million comic books a year, in English and more than 20 Indian languages, and has sold about 100 million copies since it inception in 1967 by Anant Pai, and in 2007 was taken over by ACK Media.
So this was...unexpected. The story of Angulimala that I remember watching on TV was quite different from this one. This is surprising, since as per my knowledge, ACK stories are most authentic, so now I will be googling to find out which story came from where.
Does it age well? Well, there is not much to complaint about how it ages, but the message that it gives, that you can let go of all of your sins like this, I'm not sure what exactly I think about it. But that's a personal opinion.
Anyway, like any other kids' book, do give it a read before giving it to a child.
Was reading this on the amar chitra katha app with my daughter. I remember this from my own childhood and was thrilled to see the layers of complex issues raised in this text. It is a straightforward tale of Buddhist values, but even secular readers can find a lot of meaning in the tale about the idea of responsibility.
I didnt know that he was a revered scholar before he turned a rogue robber and murderer. Again, news to me that he was killed by mob after he becamea. monk for his past deeds. At least all his karma got used by in one birth, but begs the question, why? why this play? also is our life so pre-destined? is there no escape?