The Term “Tathagata” and the Situation of the Verbal Duel in Ancient India: Who is the Tathagata?

Abstract

This article concerns the origin of the early Buddhist term tathagata (on Pali and Sanskrit material). This way, if you judge according to the Pali Canon, is of ancient pre-Buddhist origin. The “Digha-Nikaya” Sutras provides us with a number of nontrivial contexts of the use of this word, allowing us to accurately establish its etymology and literal meaning. In addition, these contexts suggest a special connection of Tathagata (as an image of the Buddha) with “truth telling”.