[Buddha-l] Vaitulyakas

[L.S. Cousins]

Joanna,

I don't think so.

There is a textual problem in that Vetullapi.taka seems to be later 
in Pali and used to explain Veda.lhapi.taka or Vedallapi.taka (the 
Burmese edition seems always to have the latter) in the earlier 
commentaries. Veda.lha- is rather cryptic and perhaps just an error. 
Vedalla- and Vetulla- as Sanskrit Vaitulya, Vaipulya and Vaidalya are 
all used to refer to one of the 9 or 12 Angas (types of scripture). 
Mahaayaanists seem to have claimed that their texts belonged to this 
Anga.

If from vetaala, you would get in Sanskrit: vaitaalika or vaitaalya 
and hence in Pali vetaalika or vetalla but never vedalla or vetulla.

Lance

>Aren't the titles of this alleged sect derived from these terms for 
>demons, ghosts, etc, or magic arts? Seems this outfit  were accused 
>of being up to no good, regardless. Their title and reputation 
>suggests derogatory labeling. Or is this off-base? I tried finding 
>Veda.lha in the Pali dictionary and in MW,  but no go.
>            Joanna
>
>
>MW
>      vetAla m. (of doubtful derivation) a kind of demon , ghost , 
>spirit , goblin , vampire (esp. one occupying a dead body) Hariv. 
>Ka1v. Katha1s. &c. ; N. of one of S3iva's attendants , Ka1lika1P. ; 
>of a teacher BhP. ; of a poet Cat. ; a door-keeper (?) L. ; (%{A}) 
>f. a form of Durga1 Va1s. ; (%{I}) f. N. of Durga1 Hariv.
>
>
>Pali dictionary
>2. Vetala: (page 647)
>Vetala at D i.6 (in the lists of forbidden crafts) refers to some 
>magic art. The proper meaning of the word was already unknown when 
>Bdhgh at DA i.84 explained it as "ghana-- ta?a?" (cymbal beating) 
>with remark  'mantena mata-- sarir' u??hapanan ti eke" (some take it 
>to be raising the dead by magic charms)..........