Most Venerable Anuruddha Maha Thera | |
|---|---|
| Title | Dibbacakkhukānan (Of those endowed with the ability of clairvoyance) |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Aniruddha |
| Died | (aged 150) Veluva village,Vajjika League |
| Parent | Shakya King Amitodana (father) |
| Occupation | bhikkhu |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Gautama Buddha |
Students
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| Part ofa series on |
| Buddhism |
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Anuruddha (Sanskrit:अनुरुद्ध;Pali:Anuruddha) was one ofthe ten principaldisciples and a cousin ofGautama Buddha.
Anuruddha was the son of Amitodana and brother to Mahanama and princessRohini (Buddha's disciple). Since Amitodana was the brother ofSuddhodana, king of theSakyas inKapilavastu, Anuruddha was cousin to Siddhartha, (Gautama Buddha). He was akshatriya by birth, enabling him to be raised in wealth. Gautama Buddha returned to his home town two years after his enlightenment, preaching his ideas to the Sakyan kingdom. Together with his 3 cousins Bhaddiya,Ananda, andDevadatta and their servantUpali, became ordained by the Buddha at the Anupiya Mango Grove.[1]
Anuruddha acquired "divine vision" (divyacakṣur) and was ranked foremost among those who had the ability.Sariputta assigned the eight thoughts of a great man for Anuruddha to use as a meditation topic. Journeying into the Pacinavamsadaya in the Ceti country to practice, he was able to master seven, but could not learn the eighth, which Buddha taught him. Anuruddha developed insight and then realizedarahantship.
Anuruddha is depicted in thePali Canon as an affectionate and loyalbhikkhu, and stood near the Buddha in assembly. At one point, when the Buddha was disappointed with the arguments of the monks atKosambi, he retreated to Pacinavamsadaya to stay with Anuruddha. In many texts, even when many distinguished monks were present, Anuruddha is often the recipient of the Buddha's questions, and answers on behalf of thesangha.
Anuruddha was present when the Buddha died at Kusinara. He was foremost in consoling the monks and admonishing their future course of action, reminding them of the Buddha's decree to follow theDharma. As the Buddha was reclining and going through thejhanas, Ananda said to Anuruddha:"The Exalted One has attained final Nibbana, Venerable Sir." Anuruddha, having divine vision, stated that the Buddha was absorbed in the state of "cessation," but had not yet died. Anuruddha was consulted by the Mallas ofKusinara regarding the Buddha's last obsequies.
Later, at the First Buddhist Council, he played a notable role and was entrusted with the custody of theAnguttara Nikaya. Anuruddha died at Veluvagama in theVajji country, in the shade of a bamboo thicket. He was one hundred and fifty years old at the time of his death.
Anuruddha is frequently depicted in theJataka, which describes the previousreincarnations of Buddhist figures. In the time ofPadumuttara Buddha, he had been a wealthy householder. Hearing one of the monks declared best among possessors of the celestial eye, he desired a similar honor. He performed acts of merit, including holding a great feast of light in front of the Buddha's tomb. InKassapa Buddha's era he had reincarnated and was born inVaranasi; one day he placed bowls filled withghee around the Buddha's tomb and set them alight, circumscribed the tomb throughout the night, bearing on his head a lighted bowl.
He was reborn in an impoverished family in Varanasi and was named Annabhara. One day, while working for his master, the banker Sumana, he gave his meal to aPratyekabuddha, Uparittha. The banker, having heard of Annabhara's pious deed, rewarded him by helping to establish a business for him. The king, impressed, gave him a site for a house, and when the ground beneath was excavated, yielded much buried treasure.
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