Mahakasyapa or Mahakassapa

Mahakasyapa (Sanskrit) or Maha Kassapa(Pali) or Pipphali Kassappa was one of the foremost disciples of the Buddha. After the passing away of Sariputta and Moggallana the two chief disciples of the Buddha, it was Maha Kassappa who had the natural authority to lead the Sangha after Buddha’s final Nirvana. But Buddha had made it his express desire that there should be no Supreme Authoritative Head and considered the Dhamma and its teachings to be the Supreme Head of the Sangha. The Buddha had praised him as being equal to him in many respects and had even exchanged robes with him. He was a model of a disciplined and austere life devoted to prayer and meditation. All these factors contributed to his pre-eminent position in the Sangha after the passing away of the Buddha.

Birth and Early Life

Maha Kassappa belonged to the Brahmin caste and was born in the village of Mahatittha in the kingdom of Magadha. His father was Kapila and his mother was Sumana Devi. He is said to have been born under the peepal tree hence he was named Pipphali. His father owned sixteen villages so Pipphali grew up in the midst of affluence and wealth. Even during his younger years he was detached and not keen on the worldly life. But his parents persuaded him to marry so finally he agreed on the condition that the girl he married would conform to his idea of perfection. It is said that he shaped a golden statue of a beautiful woman and bedecking her with ornaments and fine clothes asked his parents to find a girl similar to it thinking it would deter them. His parents approached eight Brahmins and showering them with wealth asked them to search for a girl similar to the statue. Unfortunately for him, they found a girl whose beauty equalled the image at a place named Sagala. She was a wealthy Brahmin’s daughter named Bhadda Kapilani and though her parents agreed to the proposal, the girl actually did not wish to marry but wished to embrace ascetism. Eventually Bhadda was taken to Magadha and the marriage duly performed. But since both of them wished to live a religious and pure life they maintained a life of celibacy.

Dispassion and Awakening

One day as Pipphali was inspecting the huge fields which he had inherited from his parents, he saw small creatures and worms being eaten by the birds when the fields were being ploughed. Suddenly the concept of death and suffering in the midst of all his wealth struck him and with a heavy heart he realised that all his wealth could not free him from karma. He decided to give his wealth to his wife Bhadda and embrace a life of ascetism. In the meantime his wife Bhadda too had a similar experience. When she had kept sesame seeds out to dry, the insects that came out were eaten by the birds and she suddenly felt dispassion at the world of suffering. She decided to hand over everything to her husband and embrace ascetism. When both of them heard each other’s view, they were heartened and wearing pale yellow robes and carrying clay bowls they shaved each others head and left home. All the villagers and workers working under them came crying into the streets to stop them but they moved on undeterred. After a short while since they were now ascetics they realised it would be wrong to continue walking together so bidding each other farewell they parted ways. It is said that the very Earth quaked and trembled by the power of their virtue and purity.

The Enlightenment of Bhadda Kapilani

Bhadda Kapilani walked and reached the Jetavana Monastery(where Buddha and his disciples stayed) where she listened to the Buddha’s discourses. She lived near the monastery until Buddha established the Female order for Monks. She joined the Order and soon attained Arahantship. She then devoted her life to the education and preaching of the younger female monks. She was an embodiment of detachment and compassion. The Jataka tales give the stories of her earlier births being closely associated with Kassappa and they had lived a life of purity and were highly spiritually evolved which culminated in their present life at the feet of the Buddha.

The Enlightenment of Maha Kassapa

It is said that when Maha Kassapa was in his way to meet Buddha, Lord Buddha himself perceived the arrival of an outstanding disciple and being the embodiment of compassion set out on the road himself walking to meet his future disciple. When Maha Kassapa saw the radiant countenance of the Buddha he immediately recognised him to be his Master and rushed and fell at his feet. He offered his soft and silken robes for the Buddha to sit on and then wished to exchange his robes for the coarse and rough robes worn by the Buddha. The Buddha accepted and Maha Kassapa was filled with joy. He attained enlightenment seven days after being ordained.

Past Lives

Kassapa had been closely linked to the Buddha in several earlier lifetimes. Due to this deep inner relationship there was an immediate wholehearted and strong devotion and dedication towards the Buddha the moment he came into contact with him. It is said that even the Deities wished to be associated with him and approached him with boons and offerings to ease his spiritual life but Kassapa was so spiritually advanced that he refused everything and remained content in his way of life.

Maha Kassapa led an austere life. Buddha often described his boundless virtues and exhorted other disciples to emulate him. He did not regard the strict ascetic way of life as suffering instead felt it gave unsurpassed joy of knowing sufficiency and wanting little. He was a model of unflagging discipline and would always say that propagating the Dhamma required setting a good example to people which would exert a suitable influence on people’s thinking and indirectly help them. He was very close to Ananda, the helper and server of the Buddha and would always caution him against excessive mixing with the new monks who were still not disciplined in the rules and regulations of Dhamma and the Sangha.

The First Council

After Buddha’s final Nirvana, only Maha Kassapa and Ananda remained to take over the task of Buddha. At that time Maha Kassapa was propagating the Dhamma elsewhere and on hearing the news he immediately returned to Kusinagara and reached after seven days. After ninety days a great assembly was held to decide on the preservation of the Master’s spiritual heritage, the Dhamma and the Discipline (Vinaya). It was termed the First Council and Maha Kassapa selected 500 monks all of whom were Arahants. Ananda with his exemplary and outstanding memory recited all the texts which were later compiled in the Five Collections (nikaya) of the Sutta Pitaka. Maha Kassapa was then seen as the de facto head of the Sangha due to his seniority and knowledge. Also he took great care to continue his Master’s teachings without diluting them.

Maha Kassapa’s Final Nirvana

It is said that after thirty years of the First Council, he entrusted his duties to Ananda including Buddha’s alms bowl and went to Buddha’s pagoda to pay homage and make offerings. He then went to the Kukkutapada Mountain which has three small mountains standing on it resembling the shape of the three feet of a cock. It is said that when he arrived at this mountain the three mountains split and formed a seat to receive him and later enclosed his body. When Ananda reached there the mountains opened up and he saw Maha Kassapa sitting and meditating there with his body covered with Mandara flowers. He paid homage and offerings and when he left, the mountains closed again. It is said that he will remain there until the appearance of Maitreya Buddha.

Verses of Maha Kassapa

In the Theragatha or verses of the Elders forty verses are ascribed to Maha Kassapa. They describe some of his great qualities of austerity, contentment, love of solitude, dedication, discipline and his self reliance and independent spirit.

In Other Religions

He is mostly depicted in images with Ananda standing on either side of the Buddha. He is referred to as Maha Kasho or Makakasho in Japanese and in Chinese the monk Ji Gong is a reincarnation of Maha Kassapa or Taming Dragon Arhat. He is considered a patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism.

Conclusion

Maha Kassapa was called the Father of the Sangha. He was a staunch follower of the Buddha and Dhamma and instilled in all the disciples specially the younger monks the values of dedication, discipline and steadfastness in the path. He was one pointed in his mission and his austere life and simplicity even in his old age inspired everyone. It is said that anyone who offered alms to the monks would always reap rich benefits in their future lives and Maha Kassapa would go to the house of the poorest of the poor and lowliest of the lowly to accept alms so that they would reap the fruit of their benevolent act in a future life, such was his height of compassion. His name is recorded in the annals of Buddhist history as one of the greatest monks and disciples of Buddha that ever lived.

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