Nagananda, Or The Joy Of The Snake World: A Buddhist Drama In Five Acts (1872)

Nagananda is a Buddhist drama written by Palmer Boyd in 1872. The play is set in ancient India and tells the story of Jimutavahana, a prince who is deeply devoted to the Buddhist faith. Jimutavahana is visited by a group of celestial beings who inform him that he is destined to become a Buddha in a future life. However, in order to achieve this, he must first perform a great act of compassion.Jimutavahana decides to rescue a group of snakes who are being sacrificed by a cruel king. He manages to save the snakes and is hailed as a hero by the people. However, the king is angered by his actions and orders his execution. Jimutavahana is miraculously saved by the snakes he rescued, who transform into a divine being and carry him away to safety.The play explores themes of compassion, sacrifice, and the power of faith. It is a vivid depiction of ancient Indian culture and religion, and offers a unique perspective on Buddhist teachings. Nagananda is considered a classic of Buddhist literature and is widely studied and performed in Buddhist communities around the world.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.