The saga of Maha Kassapa Thera

By Premasara EPASINGHE

Maha Kassapa was one of the ten major Arahat disciples of the Buddha. He was born in a Brahamin family and named Pippalayana. The name Kassapa indicates his clan. He became a disciple of the Buddha about three years after the latter attained Enlightenment. Kasspa became an Arahat – (one who has attained Enlightenment and is no longer subject to death and re-birth. It is the highest rank attained by Sravaka or senior disciple of the Buddha). (Arahat is a Bhikkhu who has attained liberation from the cycle of birth and death, generally through living a monastic life in accordance with the Buddha's teaching.

This is the goal of Theravadian practice, as contrasted with Bodhisatvahood in Mahayana practice. There are four stages of Enlightenment on Theravada path. They are stream-Enterer (Sotapanna), once – returner, Sakadagami the non-returner (Anagamin) and Arahat.

Birth

The great Maha Kassapa Thera was born in a village called Mahathita in Magadha, India. His parents were Kapila and Sumana Devi. When he was a youth, the parents were keen on settling down him with a marriage. His main ambition was to remain a bachelor and look after the parents. He decided to be a recluse or a monk, after his parents died.

As his parents insisted him to be married, just to satisfy them he built a golden statue of a pretty damsel like a divine angel and told his mother “I will marry only if I see a girl who resembles her”. The mother took the challenge.

She introduced eight Brahamins to carry out the mission to find a pretty damsel who looked like the statue. The Brahamins kept the golden statue in a common bathing place in the city of Sagala.

There was Brahamin called Kosiya. Her pretty daughter was Bhadra Kapalani. Her step-mother, misidentifying the golden statue to Kapalani, shouted at the statue, when she went for a bath and ordered her to get back to the mansion immediately. The eight Brahamins reported the matter to Kapila and Sumana Devi.

Honouring the words Pipphali tied the nuptial knot with Bhadra Kapalani. They never lived together as husband and wife. After the death of Kapila and Sumana the young Pipphali and Bhadra Kapalani, became followers of the Buddha.

Bhadra Kapilani, the wife of Phippali (Maha Kasspa Thera) too entered the Buddhist Order as a Bhikkhuni and became the foremost Bhikkhuni with remembrance of past births.

As she was elevated to the high rank, she became one of the 13 great Bhikkhunis of the Order in training others in meditation. Before he became a recluse, billionare Pipphali donated all his wealth to the poor and entered the Buddhist Order.

The meeting place of the Buddha and Pipphali took place in a place between Rajagaha and Nalanda, when the Buddha was meditating under the shade of Bahuputraka Nuga tree. Pippali approached the Buddha, worshipped Him and said, “Blessed One, I am Your Sravaka. Kindly admit me to Your Order”.

The Enlightened One advised him to strive hard to achieve the bliss of Nibbana. After entering the Order Pipphali changed his name Kassapa, and on the 8th day obtained the Arahatship.

Arahat Kassapa Maha Thera's personality was so attractive charming and pleasant, he looked more like the Blessed One. Sometimes, the devotees were puzzled as to who the Blessed One.

Therefore, Maha Kassapa Thera, resided separately alone many times in close proximity to a Jaina temple at Mount Vehara. While resding there Maha Kassapa fell sick with a disease known as Maddasika Jvara. As his health condition deteriorated the Buddha recited the Pirith Sutta titled Mahakassapa bojjanga.

Calm composure

The Buddha elevated Maha Kassapa Thera to the highest rank among the Dhuthangadara Bhikkhus in the Buddha Sasana.

He maintained a serene and calm composure even in his round of alms. Even god Sakkra was keen to offer alms to Ven. Maha Kassapa. He did not accept it as he was keen to obtain alms from the poor.

He was kind and compassionate. An interesting story reveals that once a leprosy patient, offering alms to Maha Kassapa, one of his fingers fell into the alms bowl of Kasspa.

The Blessed One entrusted the future guidance of the Buddhist Order to Venerable Maha Kassapa Thera, exchanged his robes with him.

At the time of the passing away of the Buddha, Maha Kasspa Thera was residing in the snowy rocky Himalaya Mountain range.

Hearing the demise of the Blessed One, he proceeded to Kusinara and paid his respects to his teacher.

The distribution of the Buddha's relics too were handled by this senior monk Maha Kassapa.

The first ever “Dharmasangayanawa the Buddhist congregation or council was held under the patronage of Ven. Mahakassapa. The Mahayana school of thought called then Sangha Council as Kassapa Sanghayanawa.

The great senior “Buddhaputra”, the foremost among the Dutaangadara Bhikkhus in the Buddhist Mahakassapa Thera, passed away at the prime age of 120 years, at a rocky mountain cave known as “Kukkutapada” surrounding the famous Gijjakuta mountain. The king Ajasatta accorded a State funeral to this noble Bhikkhu Maha Kassapa Thera.

According to Buddhist literature, “Kukkutupada rock” opened and the body of Maha Kasspa Maha Thera still lies inside this rock.

A funeral procession was held in honour of Maha Kassapa Thera which was known as Sadhukeela.