Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s3.t5: Lay-devotees of Kosala
Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s3.t5
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Lay-devotees of Kosala
v1.c14.s3.t5.1
Though the infant religion could not at first secure patronage from the king, it did from A n ā t h a p i ṇ ḍ i k a a great magnate and the High Treasurer of the realm. His valuable advice combined with pecuniary help made it possible for the religion to strike its root deep into the soil of Kosala. It was he who organised the delivery of a few discourses by Buddha to lay-people regarding the duties of house-holders and the place occupied by them under his religion. It was these discourses that served as a guide to the house-holders in the performance of their duties as lay-Buddhists.⁷ Thus it was through the efforts of Anāthapiṇḍika that a place was assigned by Buddha to the lay-Buddhists in the framework of his religion.
v1.c14.s3.t5.2
⁷ Aṅguttara, V, p. 1.
v1.c14.s3.t5.3
The lay-devotee, who as a supporter of Buddhism ranked next to Anāthapiṇḍika in importance, was Visākhā, daughter of a seṭṭhi of Sāketa, and wife of the son of a rich seṭṭhi of Sāvatthi. She persuaded her father-in-law Migāra and other members of the family to give up their faith in the doctrines of Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta and adopt those of Buddha. Her anxiety for the comforts of the monks and nuns had become proverbial.¹ She built the Pubbārāma monastery where Buddha resided for six vassas. It was at her instance that many of the Vinaya rules for both the bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs were framed. Several discourses were delivered by Buddha and his disciples for her benefit.
v1.c14.s3.t5.4
¹ Mahāvagga, viii, 15. 7.
v1.c14.s3.t5.5
A few other noteworthy lay-converts of Kosala whose names may be mentioned in this connection are Gaṇaka Moggallāna,² Pañcakaṅga ṭhapati,³ Isidatta and Purāṇa ṭhapati⁴ who were all high state-officials; Sālha, grandson of Migāra, and Rohaṇa, grandson of Pekhuṇiya, who paid occasional visits to Pubbārāma and listened to discourses.⁵
v1.c14.s3.t5.6
² Majjhima, III, p. 1.
v1.c14.s3.t5.7
³ Ibid., I, p. 396.
v1.c14.s3.t5.8
⁴ Ibid., II, p. 123.
v1.c14.s3.t5.9
⁵ Aṅguttara, I, p. 193.
Cites (3)
- Mahāvagga — Pāli
- Majjhimanikāya — Pāli
- Aṅguttaranikāya — Pāli