Maudgalyāyana
Maudgalyāyana, also known as Mahāmaudgalyāyana and by his birth name Kolita, was a principal disciple of the Buddha, renowned for his extraordinary psychic powers. He is considered the second of the Buddha's two foremost male disciples, alongside Śāriputra, and is often depicted as accompanying the Buddha in Buddhist art. Maudgalyāyana played a significant role in reuniting the monastic community after a schism and is associated with the tradition of filial piety, particularly through the popular account of him transferring merits to his mother, which is linked to the ghost festival.
Key Facts
- ›Considered the second of the Buddha's two foremost male disciples, alongside Śāriputra.
- ›Known for his exceptional psychic powers, which he used in teaching and to aid the monastic community.
- ›Instrumental in reuniting the Buddhist Sangha after a schism caused by Devadatta.
- ›Associated with filial piety and the tradition of transferring merits to deceased relatives.
- ›His violent death at age eighty-four is attributed by scripture to karmic retribution for past actions.
- ›Connected to accounts of the making of the first Buddha image.
VeṇUvana, Magadha, Kallavala
SañJaya Vairatiputra
Bhikkhu
About Maudgalyāyana
Maudgalyāyana, also known by his birth name Kolita and later as Mahāmaudgalyāyana, was one of the most prominent disciples of the Buddha. He is celebrated as the second of the Buddha's two foremost male disciples, alongside Śāriputra, and is particularly renowned for his extraordinary psychic powers. Traditional accounts describe Maudgalyāyana and Śāriputra as spiritual wanderers in their youth who, after a period of searching, encountered the Buddha's teachings and subsequently ordained as monks under him, both attaining enlightenment shortly thereafter.
Life and Historical Context
Maudgalyāyana was born in the village of Kolita, which was also his clan name. He and Śāriputra (born Upatiṣya) were friends from childhood and shared a common spiritual quest, initially under the teacher Sañjaya Vairatiputra. After leaving Sañjaya, they encountered the Buddha's teachings through a monk named Aśvajit, whose concise summary of the Buddha's doctrine led them to ordain. Upon ordination, Kolita became known as Maudgalyāyana, and Upatiṣya as Śāriputra. Maudgalyāyana attained enlightenment after overcoming an obstruction of drowsiness, guided by a vision of the Buddha. His birth on the same day as Śāriputra and their close spiritual bond are recurring themes in Buddhist texts.
Major Contributions and Role
Maudgalyāyana's most defining characteristic was his mastery of psychic powers, or ṛddhi (Pali: iddhi), a quality for which he was considered foremost among the Buddha's disciples. He employed these abilities not only for personal spiritual development but also to aid others, often engaging with beings in various realms, including pretas and devas, to illustrate the principles of karma and rebirth. He is credited with using his powers to help reunite the monastic community after a schism caused by Devadatta, a significant event in early Buddhist history. The Buddha also appointed Maudgalyāyana to train his son, Rahula, and frequently praised his teachings.
Important Relationships
Maudgalyāyana's relationship with Śāriputra was exceptionally close, marked by deep mutual respect and spiritual friendship. They are frequently depicted together in Buddhist art as the two main disciples attending the Buddha. Maudgalyāyana is also noted for his interactions with Devadatta, the disciple who caused a schism, and for his role in resolving that conflict. His female counterpart in terms of spiritual attainment and recognition for psychic powers was Utpalavarṇā.
Legacy and Filial Piety
Beyond his direct teachings and community roles, Maudgalyāyana's legacy is strongly tied to the concept of filial piety. A widely circulated account tells of Maudgalyāyana using his psychic powers to search for his deceased mother, finding her in a hell realm, and subsequently learning from the Buddha how to transfer merits to aid her liberation. This narrative, popularized through texts like the Ullambana Sutra and various folktales, is linked to the origins of the ghost festival in many Buddhist countries, highlighting the importance of honoring and supporting deceased ancestors.
Maudgalyāyana died at the age of eighty-four, reportedly killed by members of a rival sect. His death is described in Buddhist scriptures as a karmic consequence of past actions, specifically the killing of his parents in a former life. Despite this violent end, his veneration continued, with relics attributed to him being discovered and widely revered in the nineteenth century.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Maudgalyāyana?
Maudgalyāyana, also known as Mahāmaudgalyāyana and by his birth name Kolita, was one of the Buddha's closest disciples. He is recognized as the second of the Buddha's two chief male disciples, celebrated for his profound psychic abilities and his role in spiritual guidance.
What is Maudgalyāyana known for?
Maudgalyāyana is primarily known for his mastery of psychic powers, which he utilized extensively in his teachings and to support the Buddhist community. He is also recognized for his role in resolving a schism within the Sangha and for his association with the concept of filial piety, particularly the practice of transferring merits to one's ancestors.
What was Maudgalyāyana's relationship with Śāriputra?
Maudgalyāyana and Śāriputra shared a deep spiritual friendship and were considered the Buddha's two foremost male disciples. They are often depicted together in Buddhist art, accompanying the Buddha, and are seen as having complementary roles as teachers, with Śāriputra excelling in wisdom and Maudgalyāyana in psychic powers.
How did Maudgalyāyana die?
Maudgalyāyana died at the age of eighty-four, reportedly killed by members of a rival sect. Buddhist scriptures describe his violent death as a consequence of his past karma, specifically the act of having killed his own parents in a previous lifetime.
What is the significance of Maudgalyāyana's story about his mother?
The story of Maudgalyāyana using his psychic powers to help his deceased mother, who was reborn in a hell realm, is a popular account emphasizing filial piety. It is credited with inspiring the tradition of the ghost festival in many Buddhist countries, where people dedicate merits to their ancestors.
What is Maudgalyāyana's role in the Buddhist community?
Maudgalyāyana held a significant role in the early Buddhist community. He was instrumental in reuniting the monastic order after a schism caused by Devadatta and was entrusted with training Rahula, the Buddha's son. The Buddha also placed great faith in Maudgalyāyana as a teacher, sometimes having him teach in his stead.
Related Buddhists
Khujjuttara
Khujjuttarā was a prominent female lay disciple of the Buddha, recognized for her exceptional understanding and recall of his teachings. Serving Queen Sāmāvatī, she became instrumental in transmitting the Buddha's discourses to the queen and her retinue, leading to their spiritual advancement. The Buddha himself praised Khujjuttarā as his "most learned" female lay disciple, establishing her as a benchmark for faithful lay followers.
Samavati
Samavati was one of the queens of King Udena of Kosambi. She became a foremost female lay disciple renowned for her loving-kindness and compassion after her servant Khujjuttara introduced her to the Buddha's teachings. Samavati regularly invited the Buddha and his monks to preach the Dhamma to her and her 500 ladies-in-waiting.
Śāriputra
Śāriputra was one of the foremost chief disciples of the Buddha, renowned for his exceptional wisdom and his pivotal role in the development of Buddhist doctrine, particularly the Abhidharma. He is considered the first of the Buddha's two principal male disciples and is often depicted in Buddhist art and texts as a key figure in the Sangha, known for his strict adherence to monastic rules and his teaching ability.