Mahádhammarakkhita

• 1. Mahádhammarakkhita Thera

  An arahant. He lived at Asokáráma. Once, Tissa, brother of Asoka, saw him seated at the foot of a tree meditating, fanned by a Nága with a sála branch. Tissa was later ordained by him. Mhv.v.161, 167; ThigA.i.505; but see Sp.i.561, according to which it was Yonaka Mahádhammarakhita who ordained Tissa; also SA.iii.125.

  After the Third Council he was sent as messenger of Buddhism to Mahárattha. There he preached the Mahánárada Kassapa Játaka, and eighty four thousand people were converted, thirteen thousand joining the Order. Mhv.xii.5, 37; Dpv.viii.8; Sp.i.67.

• 2. Mahádhammarakkhita. An ancient Commentator, generally called Tipitaka Mahádhammarakkhita, who is quoted several times in the Commentaries. He was a contemporary of Díghabhánaka Abhaya. E.g., DhSA.267, 278, 286f.; Vibhá.81; PSA.405.

• 3. Mahádhammarakkhita. An Elder of Tuládhára vihára in Rohana. Tipitaka Cúlábhaya went to him from the Mahávihára in order to learn from him the Doctrine. At the end of the teaching, Dhammarakkhita asked Abhaya to give him a subject for meditation, for, he said, Abhaya had a greater knowledge than he of that matter. The subject was given, and soon after Dhammarakkhita attained Nibbána, and died while preaching at the Lohapásáda. Vsm.96f.

• 4. Mahádhammarakkhita. See Yonaka Mahádhammarakkhita.