Amar Chitra Katha Vol. 554 Jatak Kathayein Gaj Gathayein Elephant Stories Hindi

Over 2500 years ago, Gautama was born a prince in Lumbini, a region in northern India. In search of true knowledge, he left behind his comfortable life in the palace, including his young wife and infant son. After a life of wandering, austerities, and meditation, he eventually became known as Buddha, which means 'the Enlightened One.' Buddha's teachings emphasized compassion, non-violence, and the importance of right conduct in life, spreading far beyond India to China and Southeast Asia. The Jataka tales, or Birth-cycle tales, are stories about seekers of truth who wish to follow the path of Buddha. Among the 550 Jatakas that form the canon, many are about both animals and humans, originally compiled in the Pali language. In the three Jataka tales presented here, the first recounts an elephant who helps a lost traveler in a forest find his way to the city and even gives him his tusks to be sold for money. In the second story, a kind elephant protects a young quail, and in the third, an elephant helps woodworkers by lifting and carrying logs.