[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Dictionary of Pali Proper Names](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937) › v1.c16.937 # Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c16.937 Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names v1.c16.937 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c16.937](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v1.c16.937) 1. Cūlanāga Thera.—Generally referred to as Tipiṭaka-Cūlanāga. He was evidently a very famous commentator, and his opinions are quoted in the commentaries of Buddhaghosa.¹ Cūlanāga was the pupil of Summa Thera of Dīpavihāra² and a contemporary of Tipiṭaka-Cūlabhaya Thera, who seems to have differed from him most violently on certain points.³ Cūlanāga lived in the reign of Kuṭakaṇṇa-Tissa (16-38 A.C.), and we are told⁴ that the king held him in great respect. Once the Elder had a boil on his finger, and the king, visiting him, put the finger in his mouth to alleviate the pain. The boil burst and the king swallowed the pus therefrom. When the Elder lay dying the king carried on his head the pot containing his stools, lamenting, “The mainstay of the Dhamma is lost.” The Saṃyutta Commentary⁵ tells of an incident which occurred when Cūlanāga was preaching in the Lohapāsāda. A brahmin, listening to him, was so convinced by the sermon of the impermanence of all things, that he ran home and clasped his son to his heart, saying that he was undone. The Elder once received a bowl which it was not right for him to keep and he gave it to the Saṅgha.⁶ Cūlanāga does not always seem to have agreed with his teacher in his interpretations of various matters.⁷ Once when it was announced to Summa that Cūlanāga had explained the word thūpikata in a certain way, he expressed great sorrow and resentment and declared that though he had seven times read the Vinaya with Cūlanāga, he had never taught him such an explanation; but Cūlanāga was able to uphold his contention.⁸ Cūlanāga once preached the Chachakka Sutta in Ambilahāla Vihāra, and on that occasion the audience of men extended to a distance of one gāvuta and that of devas to a distance of a league. At the end of the discourse, one thousand monks became arahants.⁹ - [Previous: v1.c16.936](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v1.c16.936) - [Next: v1.c16.938](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v1.c16.938) - [Up: v1.c16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v1.c16) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v1.c16.937](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.malalasekera-1937.v1.c16.937) · Pramāṇa