Appendix III - Some Leading Disciples

Some Leading Disciples
Example of Leading Theras and Theris

Bhikkhus

Ven. Sariputta was praised by the Buddha for being foremost in wisdom, particularly in expounding the teaching.

Ven. Maha Moggalana was another pre-eminent disciple of the Buddha. He was praised for being foremost in possessing miraculous power.

Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggalana were both strong and successful propagators of Buddhism in the early period.

Ven. Ananda, the Buddha’s attendant and cousin, holds a special place in Buddhism. He was praised by the Buddha for having a good memory and hence was the person who best remembered the teachings of the Buddha. At the First Council, he was responsible for the recitation and hence the preservation of the Buddha’s Discourses.

Ven. Upall who was well-versed in the code of discipline, was praised by the Buddha as being foremost in the disciplinary rules, and was responsible for the preservation of disciplinary code.

Ven. Maha Kassapa played an important role in presiding over the First Council and was known for his prominence as a forest dweller who excelled in ascetic practices. Together with Ven. Ananda, they were considered the two most eminent disciples of the Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism because they actually survived the Buddha and were responsible for propagation of Buddhism in the later period.

Bhikkhunis

Many bhikkhunis or nuns were praised by the Buddha. Among them, Maha Pajapati was praised as being foremost in years ordained as a bhikkhuni. She was the step-mother and aunt of the Buddha and was the first woman to approach him for ordination. The formation of the Bhikkhuni Sangha followed her ordination.

Khema was formerly King Bimbisara’s royal consort. After joining the Order, she was very successful in preaching Dhamma. The Buddha singled out and praised her as being foremost in wisdom.

Kundalakesi was a millionnaire’s daughter who fell in love with a convicted robber. After getting married to her, he plotted to murder her. With her wit she managed to escape death, and became a wanderer well-versed in philosophical discussion. After having met Venerable Sariputta and the Buddha, she received ordination and became a bhikkhuni. She was foremost in quick understanding.

Patacara experienced the utmost suffering of separation from her loved ones, and was guided by the Buddha to the right path. She later became a bhikkhuni and was praised as being foremost in remembering Vinaya.

Example of Upasakas (Laymen)

Bimbisara, King of Magadha, was the first king to embrace Buddhism. Again he was the first person who offered a garden (veluvana or Bamboo grove) as a dwelling place for the Sangha. Throughout his life, he constantly supported Buddhism. He became a Sotapanna after listening to the Buddha’s Dhamma.

Anathapindlka, the better known name of Sudatta, was partly responsible for the success of Buddhism in Savatthi, the capital of the kingdom of Kosala. He was a wealthy merchant who often provided food for the poor. He gave constant support to the Sangha. He also offered the famous grove known as Jetavana to be a residence for the Sangha in Savatthi. It was here that the Buddha spent many vassa (rains retreat) and the Sangha grew around him simply because of the support provided by Anathapindlka. He was praised by the Buddha as being foremost in dana or alms-giving.

Jivaka was born of Salavati in Rajagaha. After giving birth to him, she had to abandon him. Jivaka was raised by Prince Abhaya and later he received his full training as a medical doctor. He was a highly trained doctor, whose fame went far and wide. People flocked to him for his treatment. He volunteered to take care of the physical well-being of the Buddha and the Sangha. He was praised by the Buddha for being foremost in faith.

King Suddhodana, father of the Prince Siddhattha was very sad when his only son left the palace to lead a life of asceticism. When the Buddha came to visit him for the first time, the Buddha ordained Rahula, his young son, Nanda, his half-brother. They were the only two direct successors. King Suddhodana, having already embraced Buddhism, was still sad at this outcome. When he became very ill, the Buddha came by his bedside and explained Dhamma to him. Finally the king was enlightened and passed away in peace.

Example of Upasikas (Laywomen)

Visakha, the leading laywoman in early Buddhism, had an outstanding place. She was a daughter of a millionnaire and came to be interested in Buddhism in her childhood as her grandfather was also a devout Buddhist. She was married into another wealthy family and became successful in converting her in-laws to Buddhism. She was known for her constant and generous support of Buddhism, and was acknowledged by the Sangha and praised by the Buddha for being foremost in offerings to the Sangha.

Khujjuttara or the hunch-back Uttara was a servant in the employ of Samavati's royal household. She was assigned to buy flowers for the daily use in the household from which she secretly kept half of the money for herself. One day, after having listened to the preaching of the Buddha, she realised her evil act and became a Sotapanna (the stream-enterer). On her return she was able to explain the Dhamma so clearly that Samavati and her fellow servants also attained the stage of Sotapanna. The Buddha praised her for her ability to preach Dhamma.

Sirima was born in Rajagaha, the capital city of Magadha. Her mother, Salavati, was a prostitute. Sirima was endowed with beauty and followed her mother’s lifestyle. She was converted to Buddhism after hearing Dhamma expounded by the Buddha and became a Sotapanna. She offered food with her own hands to eight monks regularly. It so happened that a young monk became infatuated with her beauty to the point of becoming love-sick. Soon after Sirima passed away, the Buddha used her body to teach on the subject of impermanence and finally freed the young monk from his clinging.

Sujata was a Brahmin girl who offered food to Prince Siddhattha before His Enlightenment. The Buddha visited her house and gave her preaching (or sermon), after which she became a Sotapanna. She was praised by the Buddha as the first laywoman who declared herself a follower of the Buddha.