Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1903

v2.c31.1903

Mahā Moggallāna Thera.—The second of the Chief Disciples of the Buddha. He was born in Koḷitagāma near Rājagaha, on the same day as Sāriputta (they were both older than the Buddha), and was called Koḷita after his village. His mother was a brahminee called Moggali (Moggallānī), and his father was the chief householder of the village. Moggallāna’s and Sāriputta’s families had maintained an unbroken friendship for seven generations, and so the children were friends from their childhood. Sāriputta had five hundred golden palanquins and Moggallāna five hundred carriages drawn by thoroughbreds. One day the two friends went together to see a mime play (giraggasamajjā), and there, realizing the impermanence of things, decided to renounce the world. They first lived as disciples of Sañjaya (q.v.), and then wandered all over Jambudīpa, discussing with all learned men, but finding no satisfaction. Then they separated, after agreeing that whoever first succeeded in finding what they sought should inform the other.