In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

One of the fraternities of monks in Ceylon, an off shoot of the Abhayagiri sect. Their headquarters were probably at the Uttarola Vihara, built by King Manavamma, and given to the monks of the Abhayagiri Vihara, for having consented to take into the Order his elder brother, in spite of the fact that he had lost one eye as the result of some yoga practices.

The first chief of Uttarola was the kings brother himself and he was in charge of six hundred monks. He was granted great honours and privileges together with five classes of servants to minister to him. He was also appointed to supervise the guardians of the Tooth Relic (Cv.lvii.7-11, and 16-26; also Geigers Trs.i.194, n.2 and 3).

From a Tamil inscription of Manavamma we find that he kept up his patronage of the Uttaramula Nikaya, and it is recorded that he gave over the custodianship of the Tooth Relic to a monk of this fraternity, named Moggallana (Epi. Zey., vol.ii., pt. vi., pp.250ff).

Anuruddha, author of the Anuruddha Sataka and the Abhidhammattha Sangaha, describes himself in the colophon to the former work as an Upasthavira of the Uttaramula Nikaya.

In later years this Nikaya produced many an illustrious star in Celyons literary firmament, among them the grammarian Moggallana, Vilgammula, Maha Thera and Sri Rahula. For details about them see P.L.C., passim.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Uttaramula, Nikaya.

Relevant text

No search results for Uttaramula Nikaya, Uttaramūla-nikāya; (plurals include: Uttaramula Nikayas, nikāyas) in any book or story.