Culanaga, Cūlanāgā, Cūlanāga, Cūḷanāga, Cula-naga: 1 definition

Introduction:

Culanaga means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Culanaga Thera - Generally referred to as Tipitaka Culanaga. He was evidently a very famous commentator, and his opinions are quoted in the commentaries of Buddhaghosa. (E.g., MA.i.126; SA.iii.206; DhsA.229, 267, 284; Vm.389; also FsA.405). Culanaga was the pupil of Summa Thera of Dipavihara (AA.ii.845) and a contemporary of Tipitaka Culabhaya Thera, who seems to have differed from him most violently on certain points (See VihhA.16; also DhsA.230). Culanaga lived in the reign of Kutakanna Tissa (16-38 A.C.), and we are told (VibhA.452) that the king held him in great respect. Once the Elder had a boil on his finger, and the king, visiting him, put the finger in his mouth to alleviate the pain. The boil burst and the king swallowed the pus therefrom. When the Elder lay dying the king carried on his head the pot containing his stools, lamenting, The mainstay of the Dhamma is lost. The Samyutta Commentary (SA.ii.201) tells of an incident which occurred when Culanaga was preaching in the Lohapasada. A brahmin, listening to him, was so convinced by the sermon of the impermanence of all things, that he ran home and clasped his son to his heart, saying that he was undone. The Elder once received a bowl which it was not right for him to keep and he gave it to the Sangha (Sp.iii.699). Culanaga does not always seem to have agreed with his teacher in his interpretations of various matters (VibhA.342). Once when it was announced to Summa that Culanaga had explained the word thupikata in a certain way, he expressed great sorrow and resentment and declared that though he had seven times read the Vinaya with Culanaga, he had never taught him such an explanation; but Culanaga was able to uphold his contention (Sp.iv.892; for another incident see Cula Summa). Culanaga once preached the Chachakka Sutta in Ambilahala Vihara, and on that occasion the audience of men extended to a distance of one gavuta and that of devas to a distance of a league. At the end of the discourse, one thousand monks became arahants (MA.ii.1025).

2. Culanaga - A Thera of Vasalanagara. With his brother Mahanaga, he entered the Order and, for thirty years, lived in Cittalapabbata, where he attained arahantship. He refused to reveal his identity to his mother when visiting her because he did not wish to have any attachments. SA.ii.125.

3. Culanaga - A Thera of Ceylon. An eminent teacher of the Vinaya. Vin.v.3; Sp.i.62.

4. Culanaga - A monk of Pidhanagalla in the time of Dutthagamani. Sanghadatta (q.v.) gave him a robe.

5. Culanaga - A monk of Asiggahaka parivena. One day, after having obtained alms in Candavankavithi, he fed a starving bitch. That same evening he got large quantities of ghee and molasses which he gave to his colleagues.

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An arahant Theri, mentioned as an eminent teacher of the Vinaya in Ceylon. Dpv.xviii.38.

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).

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