Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c23.905

v1.c23.905

Devadatta.—Son of the Sākyan Suppabuddha (maternal uncle of the Buddha) and his wife Amitā. He had a sister Bhaddakaccānā, who married Prince Siddhattha.¹ When the Buddha visited Kapilavatthu after the Enlightenment and preached to the Sākyans, Devadatta was converted together with his friends Ānanda, Bhagu, Kimbila, Bhaddiya, Anuruddha, and their barber, Upāli, and he sought the Buddha at Anupiyā and entered the Order.² During the rainy season that followed, Devadatta acquired the power of *iddhi* possible to those who are yet of the world (*puthujjanika-iddhi*).³ For some time he seems to have enjoyed great honour in the Order, and in one passage⁴ he is mentioned in a list of eleven of the chief Elders of all of whom the Buddha speaks in praise. Devadatta was later suspected of evil wishes.⁵ About eight years before the Buddha's death,⁶ Devadatta, eager for gain and favour and jealous of the Buddha's fame, attempted to win over Ajātasattu. He assumed the form of a child having a girdle of snakes, and suddenly appeared on Ajātasattu's lap, frightening him. He then resumed his own form, and Ajātasattu, much impressed, paid him great honour and, it is said, visited him morning and evening with five hundred chariots and sent him daily five hundred dishes of food.⁷ This encouraged Devadatta in his schemes, and he conceived the idea of taking he Buddha's place as leader of the Sangha. As soon as this thought occurred to him, his *iddhi*-power disappeared.