Khuddaka Nikaya - An introduction

The Khuddaka Nikaya is one of the five Nikayas in the Sutta Pitaka, one of the ‘three baskets’ of the Tipitaka. The Nikaya consists of 15 (Thailand), 17 (Sri Lanka) or 18 (Burma) clusters of suttas. The Khuddaka Nikaya is one of the very few, or perhaps the only one, where new suttas were added after the completion of the Tipitaka. Whenever possible or required, the new sutta was not added to the other nikayas of the Sutta Pitaka but, always added within the Khuddaka Nikaya. This was true of all the schools of the Pali Agamas or Canon – Mahisasaka, Dharmaguptaka and the Mahasanghika.

  

The Khuddaka Nikaya is comprised of – Khuddakapatha, Dhammapada, Udana, Itivuttaka, Suttanipata, Vimanavatthu, Petavatthu, Theragatha, Therigatha, Jataka, Niddesa, Patisambhidamagga, Apadana, Buddhavamsa, Cariyapitaka, Netti or Nettipakarana, Petakopadesa and Milindapanha clusters of suttas.   

There are various references in the Sumangalavilasini – being the commentary on the Digha Nikaya, and later in the Majjhima Nikaya and the Vinaya and Abhidhamma Pitakas that refer to differing numbers of clusters of suttas in the Khuddaka Nikaya. It is to be noted however, that the list of 18 clusters were approved by the Fifth Council held at Burma.

It is known that the texts – Suttanipata, Itivuttaka, Dhammapada, Theragatha, Udana and Jataka were among the earlier written clusters of suttas in the Khuddaka Nikaya. As the Tipitaka kept getting compiled and completed, much later, the Khuddakapatha, Vimanavatthu, Petavatthu, Niddesa, Patisambhida, Apadana, Buddhavamsa and Cariyapitaka were written and included.

Khuddakapatha – ‘The short passages’ – is a collection of nine texts that is presumably a textbook of sorts for newly inducted bhikkhus and bhikkhunis. Some of these texts are regularly changed and recited in many monasteries. The short passages comprise the (1) Saranagamana – ‘Going for refuge’, (2) Dasa Sikkhapada – ‘The ten training rules’, (3) Dvattimsakara – ‘The 32 parts’, (4) Samanera Pañha – ‘The novice’s questions’, (5) Mangala Sutta – ‘Protection’, (6) Ratana Sutta – ‘Treasures’, (7) Tirokudda Kanda – ‘Hungry shades – Outside the walls’, (8) Nidhi Kanda – ‘The reserve fund’, and the (9) Karaniya Metta Sutta – ‘Goodwill’.

Dhammapada – collection of about 423 short suttas.

Udana – ‘Exclamations’ – is a collection of short suttas, being concluded in each sutta with a short verse uttered by the Buddha. This precious collection includes the story of the blind men and the elephant, the story of the dove-footed nymphs among others.

Itivuttaka – ‘The Thus-saids’ – collection of 112 short suttas, in prose and verse, with a focus on a single topic of Dhamma. The phrase comes from – ‘iti vuttam Bhagavata’ – ‘Thus was said by the Buddha’.

Sutta Nipata or Suttanipata – ‘The Sutta collection’ – comprising 71 short suttas, including Karaniya metta sutta (goodwill or loving kindness), Mahamangala Sutta, and Atthaka Vagga.

Vimanavatthu – ‘Stories of the celestial mansions’ – 85 poems, explaining about deeds that led to the rebirth of deities in heavenly realms.

Petavatthu – ‘Stories of the hungry ghosts’ – 51 poems, explaining about wrongful deeds that led to the rebirth of beings into ghostly realms.

Theragatha and Therigatha – ‘Verses of the Elder Monks’, and ‘Verses of the Elder Nuns’ – with personal renditions in verse of the lives of the earlier monks and nuns, and culminating in descriptions of their awakening or understanding.

Jataka – ‘Stories of Birth’ – 547 stories that speak about some former lives of the Buddha, and his long journey as a Bodhisatta with intent and aspiration to enlightenment.

Niddesa – ‘Exposition’ – commentaries on Sutta Nipata, perhaps by Buddha’s disciple, Sariputta.

Patisambhidamagga – ‘Path of discrimination’ – an analysis of some Abhidhamma concepts.

Apadana – ‘Stories’ – Biographies in verse of the Buddha, 41 Paccekabuddhas (“silent” Buddhas), 549 arahant bhikkhus and 40 arahant bhikkhunis.

Buddhavamsa – ‘History of the Buddhas’ – about Gautama Buddha and of the 24 Buddhas before him.

Cariyapitaka – ‘Basket of conduct’ – Stories in verse, of thirty-five of the Buddha’s previous lives. Retold by Gautama Buddha at the request of Sariputta, and illustrating the Master’s practice of seven of the 10 paramis (‘perfections’).

Nettippakarana and Petakopadesa – in the Thai and the Burmese Tipitaka only. Methodological books.

Milindapañha – Burmese Tipitaka only – ‘Questions of Milinda’ – dialogue between the arahat Nagasena and the Greek King Milinda (Menander).