Performance of the concept of time in Buddhist Jataka narratives

This paper aims to explore how time performs in Buddhist Jataka stories by analysing Culladhammapāla Jataka (No.358) which portrays the complexity of jealousy. Through textual analysis of the above Jataka, the study finds that time functions as the thread that combines the narratives in the cycle of birth. Further, the phenomenon of time in the Jataka philosophically conveys a universal experience of morality, karma, jealousy and impermanence to the audience in any context across time. Moreover, the use of flashbacks, foreshadowing and repetition as techniques of using time gives the reader a sense of the character’s past experiences and future destinies while aggravating the impact of the narrative on the audience.