Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c16.1049

v1.c16.1049

3. Cūlasumana.—A novice. In a past life he was the Sumanaseṭṭhi, under whom Annabhārā (q.v.) worked. In this age he was born at Muṇḍa, near the Viñjhā mountains, as the son of Mahāmuṇḍa. When Anuruddha became an arahant and looked back into his past lives he saw how Sumana had helped him. He therefore visited Mahāmuṇḍa and enjoyed his hospitality during one rainy season. At the end of his stay he obtained Muṇḍa’s consent to ordain Cūlasumana, who became an arahant while his head was being shaved. Once, when Anuruddha suffered from indigestion, the novice Sumana, having discovered that the water from Anotatta would cure him, went there and brought the water, in spite of all the efforts of the Nāga-king Paṇṇaka (q.v.) to prevent him. Later, Paṇṇaka, realising the novice’s power, asked his pardon and became his friend and servitor. When Anuruddha went with Sumana to Sāvatthi to visit the Buddha, some of the monks began to play with Sumana, patting his head and tweaking his ears. In order to show them Sumana’s power, Anuruddha asked Ānanda to summon all the novices in the monastery and ask them to fetch water from Anotatta that he might wash his feet. Only Sumana, the youngest of them all, was able to do this, and his fame spread beyond all measure.¹