In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Mahadatta. A thera of Ariyakotiya. He was once sitting at the foot of a tree to meditate, but because of the great power of his virtue, the children of the tree deity grew restless, and the deity tried to frighten him away but failed. She then appeared before the Thera, in disguise and told him of her trouble. He asked her to take her family somewhere else for that day only as he did not wish it to be thought that she had seared him away. MA.i.131.

2. Mahadatta Thera. An incumbent of Hankanaka who wrongly believed that he was an arahant because of the in operation of the corruptions. Vsm.634; Vibha.489.

3. Mahadatta. An Elder of Moravapi, an eminent commentator whose opinions are quoted in the Commentaries. E.g., DhSA. 230, 267, 284, 286; PSA. 405.

4. Mahadatta. A senapati. He was a follower of the brahmanas, and at the moment of his death he saw before him a picture of hell. The brahmins who were round him asked him what he saw, and he said that he saw a house blood red in colour. They assured him that that was the Brahma world, but after death he was born in hell. MA.ii.803.

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).

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1963

Mahādatta is the name of a tank that existed near the ancient kingdom of Anurādhapura, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).—Mahādatta tank, built by Dhātusena (455-473), is also called Mādata and ascribed to Aggabodhi II (604-614). Vijayabāhu I (1055-1110) and Parakkamabāhu I (1153-1186) both restored Mahādattika or Mahādatta tank. It is present Mādatugama, near the 51st mile on the Dambulla-Kākirava road.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Full-text: Hankanaka, Moravapi, Vateshvara.

Relevant text

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