Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c16.959

v1.c16.959

Cūlapanthaka Thera.—An eminent arahant, declared chief among monks skilled in creating forms by mind-power and in mental "evolution" (cittavivaṭṭa).¹ He was the younger son of the daughter of a rich merchant of Rājagaha, who developed intimacy with a slave and fled with him when her misconduct was discovered. She wished to return to her parents for the birth of her first child, but her husband always postponed the visit until, in the end, she started to go without his knowledge. He followed her, but the child was born by the wayside, and therefore they called him Panthaka. The same thing occurred at the birth of the second child, and he also received the name of Panthaka, he being Cūlapanthaka and his brother Mahāpanthaka. When the boys grew up they were taken to Rājagaha, where their grandparents took charge of them. Mahāpanthaka often accompanied his grandfather to hear the Buddha preach, and he yearned to become a monk. He easily obtained permission and entered the Order, in due course becoming an arahant. With the consent of his grandparents, he ordained Cūlapanthaka, but the latter proved to be a dullard, and in the course of four months was unable to learn a single stanza. It is said that in the time of Kassapa Buddha Cūlapanthaka was a clever monk, who once laughed to scorn a dull colleague who was trying to learn a passage by heart.