A Paribbájaka. Once, when he was staying with a large number of colleagues at the Udumbarikáráma near Rájagaha, Sandhána, on his way to see the Buddha, stopped him and entered into conversation. The Buddha, by his divine ear, hearing their talk, approached them and continued the discussion with Nigrodha; this discussion is recorded in the Udumbarika Síhanáda Sutta.
D.iii.36ff.; this discussion is also referred to in the Kassapa Sihanáda Sutta (D.i.175 f.). There Nigrodha is said to have felt great joy, but this is not mentioned in the Udumbarika Sihanáda (see D.iii.57).
The Bodhisatta born as the son of a Banker in Rájagaha, later becoming king of Benares. For details see the Nigrodha Játaka.
He belonged to an eminent brahmin family of Sávatthi. On the day of the dedication of Jetavana, he saw the majesty of the Buddha and entered the Order, becoming an arahant soon after. Eighteen kappas ago, in the time of Piyadassí Buddha, he left great riches and became an ascetic, dwelling in a sála grove. Once, seeing the Buddha wrapped in samádhi, he built a bower over him, and stood there with clasped hands until the Buddha awoke from his samádhi. Then, at the Buddha's wish, the Sangha too came to the sála grove, and in their presence the Buddha predicted the ascetic's future (ThagA.i.74f; Thag.21).
Nigrodha is probably identical with Sálamandapiya of the Apadána. Ap.ii.431f.; but the same Apadána verses are also given under Tissa Thera (ThagA.i.273).
See Nigrodhamiga and Vattabbaka Nigrodha.
A Sákiyan, owner of the Nigrodháráma (q.v.). J.i.88.
Commonly known as Nigrodha sámanera. He was the son of Sumana, the eldest of Bimbisára's children, and his mother was Sumaná. When Asoka slew Sumana, his wife, who was with child, fled to a candála village, where the guardian deity of a nigrodha tree built her a hut. Here she gave birth to her son, whom she named after her benefactor. The chief candála looked after them. When Nigrodha was seven years old, the Thera Mahávaruna ordained him, and he became an arahant in the tonsure hall. One day, while walking near the palace, Asoka saw him and, because of their connection in a past life, was attracted by him. Nigrodha had been one of the three brothers who gave honey to a Pacceka Buddha in a past life (for the story see Asoka and Mhv.v.49ff). Nigrodha had called the Pacceka Buddha a candála, hence he was born in a candála village. Asoka invited Nigrodha to the palace and entertained him, and Nigrodha preached to him the Appamáda Vagga. The king was greatly pleased, and offered to give food daily at the palace to thirty two monks in Nigrodha's name. It was this visit of Nigrodha to Asoka which ultimately resulted in the conversion of the latter to the faith of the Buddha (for details see ibid., 37 72; Dpv.vi.34ff.; vii.12, 31; Sp.i.45ff). It is said (MA.ii.931) that Asoka paid great honour to Nigrodha throughout his life. Three times a day he sent to Nigrodha gifts of robes carried on the backs of elephants, with five hundred measures of perfume and five hundred caskets of garlands. All these Nigrodha would distribute among his colleagues, and most of the monks of Jambudípa at that time wore robes, which were the gift of Nigrodha.
Called Máragiri. A general of Parakkamabáhu I. He was stationed at Uddhavápi. Cv.lxxii.164, 174.
A locality in Anurádhapura, through which the símá of the Mahávihára passed. Dpv.xiv.34; Mhv.136; Mhv. p. 332. vs.14.