Biography (5): Mahānāma, the Sakyan Prince

(a) His Past Aspiration

The future Mahānāma was reborn into a worthy family in the city of Haṃsāvatī, during the time of Buddha Padumuttara. One day, while he was listening to a sermon by the Buddha, he saw a lay disciple being named as the foremost lay disciple in offerings of the most delicious and palatable alms-food, medicines and medicinal articles. He had a strong wish to become such a distinguished lay disciple in future. After making an extraordinary offering, he made known his aspiration to the Buddha who then prophesied that his aspiration would be fulfilled.

(b) His Last Existence as Prince Mahānāma of The Sakyan Clan

One day, the Buddha, after staying in Verañjā for the vassa period, made a journey to Kapilavatthu by travelling in stages. Upon arrival, He took up His abode at the Nirodhārāma monastery in Kapilavatthu, together with His many bhikkhus.

When Mahānāma, the Sakyan Prince (Elder brother of the Venerable Anuruddhā), learnt of the arrival of the Buddha, he visited Him, made his obeisance, and sat in a suitable place. Then he said to the Buddha: “Venerable Sir, I have been told that the Sangha had had a hard time in gathering alms-food in Verañjā. May I be allowed the privilege of offering daily alms-food to the Sangha for a period of four months, so that I may provide the necessary nourishment (to compensate for the deficiency of nourishing in them during the last three months or more.)” The Buddha signified His assent by remaining silent.

Prince Mahānāma, understanding that the Buddha had accepted his invitation, made offerings of five kinds of very delicious victuals and the four-food concoction (catu madhu), which has medicinal effects to the Buddha and His Sangha from the following day onwards. At the end of the four months, he obtained the Buddha’s consent to make the same kind of offerings for another four months, at the end of which he obtained permission to continue with his offerings for a further four months, thus totalling twelve months in all. At the end of one year, he sought further approval but the Buddha refused.

[At the end of the year, Prince Mahānāma sought and obtained the approval of the Buddha to let him have the privilege of offering medicinal requisites to the Sangha for life. Yet later, due to circumstances that led to a Vinaya provision in the matter, the Buddha did not extend the period beyond one year. After the Buddha had agreed to let Mahānāma provide medicinal requisites to the Sangha for life, the group of six bhikkhus bullied Prince Mahānāma to cause much annoyance. When the Buddha knew thus He rescinded the earlier privilege allowed to the Prince and laid down the rule known as the Mahānāma sikkhāpada that no bhikkhu may, without further invitation and a standing invitation, accept medicinal requisites from a donor. Breach of the rule entails pācittiya offence. (Read Vinaya Pāccttiya Section for details.)]

It became the routine practise of Prince Mahānāma to offer five kinds of very delicious victuals and the four foods concoction which has medicinal effects to every bhikkhu who came to his door. This elaborate style of providing alms-food and medicinal requisite to the Sangha became his hall-mark which was recognised throughout the Southern Continent (Jambūdīpa).

Therefore, on a later occasion, when the Buddha, during his residence at the Jetavana monastery, designated titles to outstanding lay disciples according to their merit, He declared:

“Bhikkhus, among My lay disciples who are in the habit of making offerings of delicious alms-food and medicinal requisites, Mahānāma, the Sakyan Prince, is the foremost.”