Wednesday, June 21, 2017
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Asita
Asita was a hermit ascetic of ancient India in the 6th century BCE. He is best known for having predicted that Prince Siddhartha of Kapilavastu would either become a great chakravartin or become a supreme religious leader; Siddhartha was later known as Gautama Buddha.
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Asita (the dark one) also called Devala, was a sage well-versed in yoga. He was the elder brother of sage Dhaumya and an expert in sarpavidyā (science of snakes). Hence those afflicted with the fear of snakes are advised to remember him. Through his grace, they can overcome that fear. He is said to have become a disciple of Jaigīṣavya, who once visited his hermitage and exhibited his extraordinary powers. He is one of the sages through whom the Mahābhārata was spread among the people. Ekaparṇā, the daughter of Himavān (the Himalayas) was his spouse.
1. Asita Devala.-A sage (isi). His story is given in the Assalāyana Sutta (M.ii.154ff). Once there were seven brahmin sages living in thatched cabins in the wilds. They conceived the view that the brahmins are the highest class of men and that they alone are the legitimate sons of Brahma. Hearing of this, Asita Devala appeared before their hermitage in orange attire, with stout sandals and staff, and shouted for them. The brahmins cursed him with the intention of shrivelling him into a cinder, but the more they cursed the more comely and handsome grew Asita. Feeling that their austerities were evidently fruitless, they questioned Asita who urged them to discard their delusion. Having learnt his identity, they saluted him and wished to be instructed; Asita examined and cross-questioned them about their pretensions regarding their lineage and they could find no answer. They thereupon followed his advice and renounced their claims to superiority.
Buddhaghosa says that Asita Devala was the Bodhisatta. MA.ii.785.
2. Asita Devala.-More commonly called Kāla Devala, probably identical with (1) above, and mentioned in the Indriya Jātaka (J.iii.463ff). He was one of the seven chief disciples of the Bodhisatta Sarabhanga and lived with many thousand sages in Avanti Dakkhināpatha. He had a younger brother Nārada, also an ascetic, who lived in Arañjara. When Nārada became enamoured of a courtesan on the river-bank near Arañjara, Kāla Devala flew to him, and in due course brought Sālissara, Mendissara and Pabbatissara to admonish him. When they, too, failed in their efforts to convert Nārada, Kāla Devala brought the master of all sages, Sarabhanga, who with their help persuaded Nārada to give up his love.
In this present age Kāla Devala became Mahā Kaccana (J.iii.469). 
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