Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.3472

v2.c31.3472

4. Moggallāna.—Younger son of Dhātusena. When his brother, Kassapa, took Dhātusena captive, Moggallāna fled to Jambudīpa. He collected troops, and, in the eighteenth year of Kassapa's reign, landed in Ceylon with twelve friends, counting on the support of the Nigaṇṭhas. He lived for a time at Kuṭhārī-vihāra in Ambaṭṭhakola, making preparations. Kassapa came out of Sīhagiri to meet him, and, being defeated in battle, committed suicide. Moggallāna thereupon became king as Moggallāna I., making Anurādhapura once more the capital. At first he showed great cruelty to his father's enemies, earning the title of “Rakkhasa,” but later he became gentle and engaged himself in good works. He patronized the Dhammaruci and Sāgalika schools and gave them the Daḷha- and Dāṭhakoṇḍañña-vihāras at Sīhagiri. To Mahānāma, incumbent of Dīghāsana-(? Dīghāsaṇḍa)-vihāra, he gave the Pabbata-vihāra, and the Rājñī nunnery to the Sāgalika nuns. In Moggallāna's reign, Silākāla (Amba-Sāmaṇera) brought the Buddha's Hair-relic to Ceylon. Moggallāna instituted celebrations in its honour and gave them into the charge of Silākāla, who left the Order and became his sword-bearer (asiggāhaka). Migāra and Uttara were two of his generals. He reigned for eighteen years¹ (496-513 A.C.). Moggallāna's sister married Upatissa III.²