Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c7.328

v1.c7.328

That Mahā Kassapa was fond of Ānanda, we may gather from the fact that it was he who contrived to have him elected on the First Council, and when Mahā Kassapa heard of Ānanda’s attainment of arahantship, it was he who led the applause.⁵⁸ Ānanda held him in the highest veneration, and on one occasion refused to take part in an upasampadā ordination because he would have to pronounce Kassapa’s name and did not consider this respectful towards the Elder.⁵⁹ In their conversations, Kassapa addresses Ānanda as “āvuso,” Ānanda addresses Kassapa as “bhante.” There is an interview recorded between them in which Kassapa roundly abuses Ānanda, calling him “corn-trampler” and “despoiler of families,” and he ends by up saying “this boy does not know his own measure.” Ānanda had been touring Dakkhiṇagiri with a large company of monks, mostly youths, and the latter had not brought much credit upon themselves. When Kassapa sees Ānanda on his return to Rājagaha, he puts on him the whole blame for the youths’ want of training. Ānanda winces at being called “boy”; “my head is growing grey hairs, your reverence, yet I am not vexed that you should call me ‘boy’ even at this time of day.” Thullanandā heard of this incident and showed great annoyance. “How dare Mahā Kassapa,” she says, “who was once a heretical teacher, chide the sage Ānanda, calling him ‘boy’?” Mahā Kassapa complains to Ānanda of Thullanandā’s behaviour; probably, though we are not told so, Ānanda apologised to him on her behalf.⁶⁰