AVADANA, the name given to collections of Buddhist tales purporting to be told by the Buddha in order to show the results of karma. They exist in a large number of Sanskrit (Nepalese) works of which the chief are the Avadanasataka (Century of Legends), and the Divyavadana (The Heavenly Legend). The older collections belong to Hinayana, and such compositions were continued in Mahayana schools. They are not found in the Pali, as a separate literary form, but the Canon contains a work called Apadana, consisting of recitals in verse by elders, who tell how their good deeds in previous births have led to happiness. The Maha-apadana sutta ("great achievement"), in the Digha nikaya gives an account of the last seven Buddhas. (See Bun Dinsm.)