Upatissa, Upatissā: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Upatissa means something in Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. 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. Upatissa - The personal name of Sariputta (q.v.).

2. Upatissa - Purohita to Vijaya, king of Ceylon. He founded a settlement at Upatissagama. Mhv.vii.44; Dpv.ix.32, 36.

3. Upatissa I - King of Ceylon. He reigned for forty two years between A.C. 362 and 409. He was the eldest son of Buddhadasa. He was of very kindly disposition and lived a simple life, eating of the food served in the Mahapali alms hall. It is said that once, when the roof of his palace started leaking at night, he lay all night in the wet, being loth to disturb any of the servants. During a period of drought and famine, he organised a religious festival, causing rain to fall. He built the Rajuppala, Gijjhakuta, Pokkharapasaya, Valahassa, Ambutthi and Gondigama tanks and the Khandaraja Vihara, besides hospitals and almshouses for women in travail, the blind and the sick. He was murdered by his queen consort, who had an intrigue with his younger brother, Mahanama. For an account of Upatissas reign see Cv.i.37, 179ff.

4. Upatissa II - King of Ceylon. He was the husband of the sister of Moggallana I. and was his general. He killed Siva I, and became king, his reign lasting only one year and a half (A.C. 522-24). He had a son Kassapa, called Girikassapa by virtue of his prowess, and a daughter who married Silakala. Silakala became a rebel and seized Upatissas kingdom. (For an account of Upatissa see Cv.xli.5f). Upatissa belonged to the Lambakanna clan, and in Sinhalese writing is called Lamani upatissa (Cv.Trs.i.52, n.1).

5. Upatissa - Son of Silakala and brother of Dathapabhuti and Moggallana II. He was a good looking young man and was his fathers favourite. He was killed by Dathapabhuti (Cv.xli.33ff).

6. Upatissa Thera - Called Pasanadipavasi Upatissa. He appears to have written a Commentary on the Mahavamsa, which the author of the Mahavamsa Tika used for his own work, sometimes criticising its comments. See, e.g., MT.47.

7. Upatissa - Thera of Tambapapidipa (Ceylon), perhaps to be identified with No. 6 above. He and his colleague, Phussadeva, are often mentioned as being expert exponents of the Vinaya. Upatissa had two pupils, Mahapaduma and Mahasumma, who became very famous as vinayadhara. Mahapaduma read through the Vinaya eighteen times with his teacher, and Mahasumma nine times (Sp.i.263f). Buddhaghosa evidently regarded with great respect the explanations of various Vinaya questions as given by Upatissa, for he often quotes him. See, e.g., Sp.ii.456; iii.624, 714; iv.890.

8. Upatissa - Sariputtas father and chieftain of Nalaka or Upatissagama (q.v.). His proper name was Vanganta (q.v.), Upatissa being, evidently, his clan name (SnA.i.326).

9. Upatissa Thera - Author of the Pali Mahabodhi vamsa. He lived in Ceylon, probably in the tenth century. For details see P.L.C. 156ff.

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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India history and geography

Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early Buddhism

Upatissa (उपतिस्स) or Upatissagāma is the name of an ancient locality situated in Majjhimadesa (Middle Country) of ancient India, as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—The village of Upatissa was not far off from Rājagaha.

India history book cover
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.

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