Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.2311

v2.c36.2311

1. Sāriputta Thera.—The chief disciple (aggasāvaka) of Gotama Buddha. He is also called Upatissa, which was evidently his personal name.¹ The commentators say that Upatissa was the name of his village and that he was the eldest son of the chief family in the village, but other accounts give his village as Nālaka. His father was the brahmin, Vaṅganta,² and his mother, Rūpasārī. It was because of her mother's name that he came to be called Sāriputta.³ The name Upatissa is hardly ever mentioned in the books. He had three younger brothers—Cunda, Upasena, and Revata (afterwards called Khadiravaniya)—and three sisters—Cālā, Upacālā and Sisūpacālā; all of whom joined the Order.⁴