Culapanthaka, Cula-panthaka, Culia-panthaka: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Culapanthaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Culapanthaka.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesAn eminent arahant, declared chief among monks skilled in creating forms by mind power and in mental evolution (cittavivatta) (A.i.23). He was the younger son of the daughter of a rich merchant of Rajagaha, who developed intimacy with a slave and fled with him when her misconduct was discovered. She wished to return to her parents for the birth of her first child, but her husband always postponed the visit until, in the end, she started to go without his knowledge. He followed her, but the child was born by the wayside, and therefore they called him Panthaka. The same thing occurred at the birth of the second child, and he also received the name of Panthaka, he being Culapanthaka and his brother Mahapanthaka. When the boys grew up they were taken to Rajagaha, where their grandparents took charge of them. Mahapanthaka often accompanied his grandfather to hear the Buddha preach, and he yearned to become a monk. He easily obtained permission and entered the Order, in due course becoming an arahant. With the consent of his grandparents, he ordained Culapanthaka, but the latter proved to be a dullard, and in the course of four months was unable to learn a single stanza. It is said that in the time of Kassapa Buddha Culapanthaka was a clever monk, who once laughed to scorn a dull colleague who was trying to learn a passage by heart.
When Mahapanthaka discovered his brothers stupidity, he asked him to leave the Order (see DhA.iv.190f), but Culapanthaka so loved the Buddhas teaching that he did not wish to return to the lay life. One day Jivaka Komarabhacca, wishing to give alms to the Buddha and the monks, asked Mahapanthaka, who was acting as steward, to collect all the monks in the monastery. This he did, omitting only Culapanthaka who, he said, had made no progress in the Doctrine. Greatly grieved, Culapanthaka determined to leave the Order, but as he was going out the Buddha met him, took him into the Gandhakuti and comforted him, giving him a clean piece of cloth. Sit with your face to the East, said the Buddha, repeat the words rajoha ranam and wipe your face with the cloth. As Culapanthaka carried out these orders he noticed that the cloth became dirty, and as he concentrated his mind on the impermanence of all things, the Buddha sent a ray of light and exhorted him about the necessity of getting rid of the impurities of lust and other evils. At the end of the admonition Culapanthaka attained arahantship with the four patisambhida, which included knowledge of all the Pitakas.
Tradition has it that Culapanthaka was once a king and that while going in procession round his city he wiped the sweat from his brow with a spotless garment which he wore and noticed how the cloth was stained. His mind then grasped the idea of impermanence, hence the ease with which he did so in his last birth.
Meanwhile,
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).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Deities and other Spiritual beingsCūḷapanthaka is another name for Cūḍapanthaka—one of the Sixteen Arhats (known in Tibetan as gnas brtan bcu drug) who were chosen by Buddha Shakyamuni to remain in the world and protect the Dharma until the arrival of the future Buddha Maitreya. They vowed to maintain the Dharma for as long as beings could benefit from it. These legendary Arhats [e.g., Cūḷapanthaka] were revered in countries such as China, Japan, India and Tibet—a tradition which continues up until this day, for example in Zen Buddhism and Tibetan art.
Source: Rigpa Shedra: WikiChulapanthaka refers one of the Sixteen Arhats who where requested by the Buddha to protect the Dharma for as long as beings are capable of benefitting from the teachings.—Chulapanthaka was Panthaka's brother. As a disciple he was exceedingly dull and stupid; he could not apply his mind or commit to memory even one stanza of doctrine. The Buddha gave him the words "Get rid of the dust, get rid of the impurities" and told him to sweep the floor as his practice. Eventually he started to think about the meaning of the words, and thereby attained realization. The Buddha appointed him to teach the nuns, some of whom were deeply insulted, but he soon led them to great realization through his teaching and miraculous displays. Chulapanthaka lives on Vulture's Peak with 1,000 arhats. His hands rest in the meditation mudra, signifying detachment from material values and unshakeable devotion. Invoking him frees one from desire, hatred and ignorance, the three poisons that predispose beings to suffer.
Chulapanthaka is also known as (1) in Sanskrit: Cūḍapanthaka and in Tibetan as Lamtren Ten [lam phran bstan] (2) in Sanskrit: Kṣudrapanthaka.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryCūlapanthaka (चूलपन्थक).—see Cūḍa°.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Cula, Panthaka.
Starts with: Culapanthakadaraka, Culapanthakasamanera, Culapanthakasutta, Culapanthakatthera, Culapanthakattheraapadana, Culapanthakattheragatha.
Full-text: Panthaka, Cullapanthaka, Culapanthakadaraka, Mahapanthaka, Jivakambavana, Dhana Vagga, Cudapanthaka, Sixteen arhats, Ekuddana.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Culapanthaka, Chūla-panthaka, Chūḷa-panthaka, Chūḷa-paṇṭhaka, Chula-panthaka, Chuḷa-paṇṭhaka, Chūlapanthaka, Chulapanthaka, Chulia-panthaka, Cūḷa-panthaka, Cūla-panthaka, Cuḷa-paṇṭhaka, Cūḷa-paṇṭhaka, Cula-panthaka, Cūlapanthaka, Cūḷapanthaka, Cūḷapaṇṭhaka, Cuḷapaṇṭhaka, Culia-panthaka; (plurals include: Culapanthakas, panthakas, paṇṭhakas, Chūlapanthakas, Chulapanthakas, Cūlapanthakas, Cūḷapanthakas, Cūḷapaṇṭhakas, Cuḷapaṇṭhakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Biography (11-12): Two Panthaka Mahātheras < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]
Cūḷaseṭṭhi Jātaka < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]
Dhammapada (Illustrated) (by Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero)
Verse 25 - The Story of Cūlapanthaka < [Chapter 2 - Appamāda Vagga (Heedfulness)]
Vinaya Pitaka (1): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks’ rules) (by I. B. Horner)
Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)
Commentary on Biography of the thera Cūḷapantha < [Chapter 2 - Sīhāsaniyavagga (lion-throne section)]
Visuddhimagga (the pah of purification) (by Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu)
(1) The Kinds of Supernormal Power < [Chapter XII - The Supernormal Powers (iddhividha-niddesa)]
The Buddha and His Teachings (by Narada Thera)