History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c12.15

c12.15

The surname Aggivessana occurs here and there in the Pāli scriptures. Saccaka Nigaṇṭhaputta, who visited the Buddha at Kūṭāgāra-sālā near Vesālī, and was converted by him, is referred to by this title.⁷ The same Saccaka is elsewhere referred to as a furious debater of Vesālī, who was defeated in argument by the Buddha.⁸ Another Aggivessana is Dīghanakha the paribbājaka, nephew of the bhikkhu Sāriputta, and also converted by the Buddha.⁹ It is hardly probable that either of these two have any connection with the disācara Aggivesāyaṇa; the name seems certainly that of a clan or gotra.