Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1958

v2.c31.1958

Moggallāna died before the Buddha, Sāriputta dying before either. The Theragāthā contains several verses attributed to Moggallāna regarding Sāriputta’s death.⁴⁶ Sāriputta died on the full-moon day of Kattika and Moggallāna two weeks later, on the new-moon day.⁴⁷ According to the Commentaries⁴⁸ his death resulted from a plot of the Nigaṇṭhas. Moggallāna used to visit various worlds and return with his report that he had discovered that those who followed the Buddha’s teaching reached happy worlds, while the followers of the heretics were reborn in woeful conditions. These statements diminished the number of the heretics and they bribed brigands to kill Moggallāna.