Vangisa: 1 definition

Introduction:

Vangisa 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

He belonged to a brahmin family and was proficient in the Vedas. He gained repute by tapping on skulls with his finger nail and telling thereby where the owners of the skull were reborn. During three years he thus gained much money. Then, in spite of the protests of his colleagues, he went to see the Buddha, who gave him the skull of an arahant (according to the Apadana, he saw Sariputta first and learnt from him about the Buddha). Vangisa could make nothing of this and joined the Order to learn its secret. He was ordained by Nigrodhakappa, and, meditating on the thirty two constituents of the body, he won arahantship. He then visited the Buddha again and praised him in various verses, full of similes and metaphors. This brought him reputation as a poet (Kavyacitta or Kaveyyamatta). Later the Buddha declared him foremost among those pre eminent in ready expression (patibhanavantanam). His resolve to attain to this position was made in the time of Padumuttara Buddha. A.i.24; Dpv.iv.4; ThagA.ii.192ff.; AA.i.149ff.; DhA.iv.226f.; SNA.i.345f.; Ap.ii.495ff.

The Theragatha contains numerous verses spoken by him on various occasions (Thag.1208 79; most of these are repeated at S.i.183ff ) some of them (1209-18) uttered about himself, his attempts to suppress desires excited by the sight of gaily dressed women (Cf. S.i.185; on one such occasion, he confessed his disaffection to Ananda, who admonished him.); others (1219-22) were self admonitions against conceit because of his facility of speech; some were spoken in praise of sermons preached by the Buddha - e.g., the Subhasita Sutta (1227-30), a sutta on Nibbana (1238-45), and a sutta preached at the Pavarana ceremony (1231-7). Several verses were in praise of his colleagues - e.g. Sariputta (1231-3), Anna Kondanna (1246-8), and Moggallana (1249-51). One of Vangisas long poems (vvs. 1263-74) is addressed to the Buddha, questioning him as to the destiny of his (Vangisas) teacher Nigrodhakappa. The Commentary (ThagA.ii.211) explains that when Nigrodhakappa died Vangisa was absent and wished to be assured by the Buddha that his teacher had reached Nibbana. But the poem is more than a question. It is really a eulogy of the Buddha. Another verse (1252) describes the Buddha as he sat surrounded by his monks on the banks of the Gaggara at Campa.

The Samyutta (S.i.185ff.; SA.i.207ff ) devotes one whole section to Vangisa, dealing with the incidents connected with his life and giving poems made by him on these occasions. The Milinda (p. 390)also contains a poem attributed to Vangisa in praise of the Buddha. According to the Apadana (Ap.ii.497, vs.27), he was called Vangisa, both because he was born in Vanga and also because he was master of the spoken word (vacana). See also Vangisa Sutta and Subhasita Sutta.

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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