1. Mahanaga Thera.
The son of Madhuvasettha of
Saketa. While the Buddha
was at Anjanavana, Mahanaga saw the wonder wrought by
Gavampati and entered the
Order under him, attaining to arahantship in due course.
In the past he had given
a dadima (pomegranate) fruit to Kakusandha Buddha (ThagA.i.442f).
Several
verses uttered by him in admonition of the Chabbaggiya, because of their failure
to show regard for their co religionists, are found in the
Theragatha. Thag.vss.387-92.
2. Mahanaga. Son of Mutasiva and viceroy of Devanampiyatissa. His wife was
Anula, for whose ordination Sanghamitta came over from Jambudipa (Mhv.xiv.56; Dpv.xi.6;
xvii.75). His second wife was a foolish woman who tried to poison him in order to
get the throne for her son. While he was building the Taraccha tank, she sent him
some mangoes, the top one of which, intended for him, was poisoned. But it was her
son who ate the mango and died. Mahanaga thereupon went to Rohana, where he founded
the dynasty of that name at Mahagama. His son was Yatthalayaka Tissa. Mahanaga built
the Nagamaha vihara and the Uddhakandara vihara. Mhv.xxii.2ff.
3. Mahanaga.
A resident of Nitthulavitthika in Girijanapada. He was the father of Gothaimbara.
Mhv.xxiii.49.
4. Mahanaga.
Son of Vattagamani. He later came to be known
as Coranaga. Mhv.xxxiii.45.
5. Mahanaga.
See Mahadathika Mahanaga.
6. Mahanaga Thera.
Incumbent of Bhutarama. As a mark of favour, Kanitthatissa
built for him the Ratanapasada at Abhayagiri vihara. Mhv.xxxvi.7.
7. Mahanaga Thera.
Incumbent of Samudda vihara. He was among those who accepted the gift
of a meal by Prince Saliya, in his birth as a blacksmith. MT. 606.
8. Mahanaga Thera.
Incumbent of Kalavallimandapa. He was among those who accepted the meal
given by Saliya in his previous birth (MT. 606). He was one of the last to attain
arahantship among those who left the world with the Bodhisatta in various births
(J.iv.490). He did not sleep for seven years, after which he practised continual
meditation for sixteen years, becoming an arahant at the end of that time. SNA.i.56;
MA.i.209; SA.iii.155.
His fame was great, and there is a story of a brahmin who came all the way
from Pataliputta to Kalavallimandapa in Rohana to visit him. The brahmin entered
the Order under him and became an arahant (AA.i.384). Once, while Mahanaga was
begging alms at Nakulanagara, he saw a nun and offered her a meal. As she had
no bowl, he gave her his, with the food ready in it. After she had eaten and washed
the bowl, she gave it back to him saying, Henceforth there will be no fatigue
for you when begging for alms. Thereafter the Elder was never given alms worth
less than a kahapana. The nun was an arahant. DhSA.399.
9. Mahanaga Thera.
