1. Mahátissa. A thera who lived in Bhaggari in
Ceylon. He was an arahant, and is mentioned as being among the last of those
who took part in various assemblies that followed the departure of the
Bodhisatta during different births, such as the Kuddálaka Samágama, Múgapakkha,
etc. J.vi.30.
2. Mahátissa. Called Vanavásí Mahátissa. He was
a colleague of Alindakavásí Maháphussadeva of Ceylon, and witnessed
Sakka and other deities waiting on the latter in recognition of his holiness.
Mahátissa perceived only the radiance of the devas and questioned Phussadeva,
who did not, however, give a direct answer. SNA.i.55f.; Vibhá.352.
3. Mahátissa Thera. Called Ambakhádaka-Mahátissa.
He lived at Ciragumba, and is mentioned as an example of a monk who refused to
eat food which came to him as a result of signifying in words that he desired
it. Vsm.43.
4. Mahátissa Thera. He lived in Cetiyagiri, and
one day, while on his way to Anurádhapura, saw a woman who was leaving her
husband, having quarrelled with him. She was beautifully dressed, and seeing
the Elder, smiled at him, in order to show her perfect teeth. The Elder looked
at her, and acquiring the perception of "the foul" through thinking of the
bones of her teeth, became an arahant. The husband followed his wife and asked
the Elder if he had seen her. The Elder replied, "I know not if it was man or
woman, but I saw a lump of bones." Vsm.20f., 194.
5. Mahátissa Thera. Of Punnavallika. One full
moon day, at evening, he went to the courtyard of the Mahá Thúpa, saw the
moonlight, and turning towards the shrine, entered into rapture, the Buddha
being his object of thought. He habitually recalled this experience
thenceforth until, one day, he was able to travel through the air to the Mahá
Thúpa. Vsm.143; DhSA.116.
6. Mahátissa. An Elder of the Mahákarańjiya
Vihára. He became an arahant by developing ánápánasati, and was thus able to
limit his life term. Vsm.292.
7. Mahátissa Thera. While begging for alms in
Kalyánigáma his mind was defiled by the sight of an "uncommon" form (visabhágarúpa,
naked woman?). SNA.i.6f.
8. Mahátissa Thera. An incumbent of the
Mandaláráma near Bhokkantagáma. He was a reciter of the Dhammapada. Sumaná,
wife of Lakuntaka Atimbara, related the story of her past in the assembly of
monks in association with this Thera. DhA.iv.51.
9. Mahátissa. A man of the Okkáka race, father
of Dappula I. His wife was Sanghasivá, and they had two other sons, Aggabodhi
and Maniakkhika, and one daughter. Cv.xlv.38.
10. Mahátissa Thera. Incumbent of Kotapabbata
Vihará and teacher of Asubhakammika Tissa. He was an arahant, and
heard, with his divine ear, the description given in the Lohapásáda by
Cittagutta Thera of the marvels of the Mahá Thúpa. Mahátissa told Cittagutta
that the description was not full enough. MT. 552f.
11. Mahátissa Thera. Incumbent of Kambugallaka
Vihára. He was a colleague of Kupikkala Mahátissa, and interceded on behalf of
Vattagámaní when that king's ministers wished to leave him. Later, the
ministers appointed him to look after all the monasteries built by them.
Mhv.xxxiii.76, 89ff.; MT. 619, 622.
12. Mahátissa Thera. Incumbent of Kupikkala
Vihára. When Vattagámaní was in hiding in the forest of Vessagiri, the Elder
once provided him with a meal, and the king, out of gratitude, made him a
grant of land (Mhv.xxxiii.49). Later, the ministers wanted to revolt against
the king on account of his cruelty to Tanasíva, but the Elder and his
colleague Mahátissa from Kambugallaka, prevented them from doing so
(Mhv.xxxiii.76). When Vattagámaní built the Abhayagiri Vihára, he gave it into
the charge of Mahátissa. Mhv.xxxiii.83.
13. Mahátissa Thera. An incumbent of the
Mahávihára. He was expelled by reason of his association with families. His
pupil Bahalamassutissa thereupon seceded from the Mahávihára and established a
new sect in Abhayagiri. Mhv.xxxiii.95ff.
14. Mahátissa Thera. Incumbent of Anuráráma.
Voháríka Tissa was so pleased with him that he ordered alms to be regularly
given to him in the Mucelapattana. Mhv.xxxvi.30.
15. Mahátissa Thera.
Even when sixty years old he did not realize that he was a puthujjana. Then,
one day, his pupil Dhammadinna of Talangara came to him, asking for his
company in a journey to Tissamahá-vihára, where he had been asked to preach.
Mahátissa greeted him, and in the course of conversation, Dhammadinna
discovered that his teacher was under the false impression that he was an
arahant. Wishing to show him his error, he persuaded Mahátissa, by his iddhi
power, to create a pond, and in the pond a lotus, which a young girl was
picking. At the sight of the girl, Mahátissa was possessed by lust, and
realized that he was no arahant. Dhammadinna withdrew, and that same day
Mahátissa put forth effort and attained arahantship. AA.i.25.
16. Mahátissa. An incumbent of Cittalapabbata.
He was troubled by lustful thoughts and consulted his teacher. The Thera asked
him to prepare a cell for him, which he did with great care. The Thera then
asked him to occupy it for one night, since he had taken so much trouble over
it. That night Mahátissa put forth effort and became an arahant. AA.i.26.
