View source for Ānanda

== In art ==

Between 1856 and 1858 [[Richard Wagner]] wrote a draft for an opera [[libretto]] based on the legend about Ānanda and the low-caste girl Prakṛti. He left only a fragmentary prose sketch of a work to be called ''[[Die Sieger]]'', but the topic inspired his later opera ''[[Parsifal (opera)|Parsifal]]''.<ref name="Wagner" /> Furthermore, the draft was used by composer [[Jonathan Harvey (composer)|Jonathan Harvey]] in his 2007 opera [[Wagner Dream]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jonathan Harvey's Wagner Dream, Opera on 3{{nowrap| - }}BBC Radio 3 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hdjz9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107035632/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01hdjz9 |archive-date=7 November 2015 |url-status=live |website=[[BBC]] |date=May 2012}}</ref>{{sfn |App |2011 |pp=42{{en dash}}3}} In Wagner's version of the legend, which he based on orientalist [[Eugène Burnouf]]'s translations,<!--43--> the magical spell of Prakṛti's mother does not work on Ānanda, and Prakṛti turns to the Buddha to explain her desires for Ānanda. The Buddha replies that a union between Prakṛti and Ānanda is possible, but Prakṛti must agree to the Buddha's conditions. Prakṛti agrees, and it is revealed that the Buddha means something else than she does: he asks Prakṛti to ordain as a ''bhikkhunī'', and live the celibate life as a kind of sister to Ānanda. At first, Prakṛti weeps in dismay, but after the Buddha explains that her current situation is a result of [[karma (Buddhism)|karma]] from her previous life, she understands and rejoices in the life of a ''bhikkhunī''.{{sfn |App |2011 |pages=33{{en dash}}4, 43}} Apart from the spiritual themes, Wagner also addresses the faults of the caste system by having the Buddha criticize it.<ref name="Wagner">{{cite journal |date=10 August 1889 |orig-date=1856 |journal=The Musical World |volume=69 |issue=32 |page=531 |title=Sketch of Wagner's 'Die Sieger' |first=R. |last=Wagner |author-link=Richard Wagner |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/7726227 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001222537/https://search.proquest.com/openview/3cbd37e266b00c7d |archive-date=1 October 2018|id={{ProQuest|7726227}} }}</ref>

Drawing from [[Schopenhauer]]'s philosophy, Wagner contrasts desire-driven salvation and true spiritual salvation: by seeking deliverance through the person she loves, Prakṛti only affirms her ''[[will to live]]'' ({{langx|de|Wille zum Leben|italic=yes}}), which is blocking her from attaining deliverance. By being ordained as a ''bhikkhunī'' she strives for her spiritual salvation instead. Thus, the early Buddhist account of Mahāpajāpati's ordination is replaced by that of Prakṛti. According to Wagner, by allowing Prakṛti to become ordained, the Buddha also completes his own aim in life: "[H]e regards his existence in the world, whose aim was to benefit all beings, as completed, since he had become able to offer deliverance{{em dash}}without mediation{{em dash}}also to woman."{{sfn |App |2011 |pages=34{{en dash}}5 |ps=:"... und somit seine erlösenden, allen Wesen zugewendeten Weltlauf als volendet ansieht, da er auch dem Weibe{{em dash}}unmittelbar{{em dash}}die Erlösung zusprechen konnte."}}

The same legend of Ānanda and Prakṛti was made into a short prose play by the Indian poet [[Rabindranath Tagore]], called ''Chandalika''. ''Chandalika'' deals with the themes of spiritual conflict, caste and social equality,<!--Jain--> and contains a strong critique of Indian society.<!--Chowdurie--> Just like in the traditional account, Prakṛti falls in love with Ānanda, after he gives her self-esteem by accepting a gift of water from her. Prakṛti's mother casts a spell to enchant Ānanda. In Tagore's play, however, Prakṛti later regrets what she has done and has the spell revoked.<!--Jain--><ref>{{cite journal |last=Jain |first=R. |year=2016 |title=Tagore's Drama Synthesis of Myths, Legends and Folklores: A Medium of Social Reformation |journal=Dialogue{{nowrap| –}} A Journal Devoted to Literary Appreciation |volume=12 |issn=0974-5556 |issue=1 |url=http://dialoguethejournal.mripub.com/index.php/dailogue/article/view/39/39 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002065014/http://dialoguethejournal.mripub.com/index.php/dailogue/article/view/39/39 |archive-date=2 October 2018 |page=71 |access-date=1 October 2018 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chowdurie |first1=Tapati |title=Quenching Prakriti's Thirst... |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/quenching-prakritis-thirst/article18261076.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001222603/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/quenching-prakritis-thirst/article18261076.ece |archive-date=1 October 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=24 September 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=27 April 2017}}</ref>