Respectable Characteristics of Venerable Sariputta Thera

It is about Sariputtara Thera

1. Respectable Characteristics of Venerable Sariputta Thera Win Thida , Zin Wai Lwin, Soe Soe Aye Associate Professor, Department of Oriental Studies Yandarpon University February, 2023

2. Contents Introduction Aim Venerable Sariputta Getting Etadagga Past Life Present Life Ability Characteristics Conclusion

3. Introduction The top chief Disciple of Buddha “ Savaka ” means the disciple of Buddha Aggasavaka means virtuous disciple Etadagga - Pali term The combination of the two terms “ Etad ”+ “ Agga ” Etad means the man Agga means virtuous Buddha uttered that the man is virtuous

4. The Story of getting Etadagga Buddha went to Tavataimsa to preach Dhammacakya Dhamma Then went to Anotat pool Do the washing in Candankoo Forest Did the daily duties for Buddha and listened to Dhamma After Buddhist lent, descended to Sinkasanago town and asked the problems Buddha guided to monitor Mahabhu for the questions Sariputta could not answer Sariputta could answer well

5. Past Life of Thera - Made the aspiration to Anomadasi Buddha Was a young man named “Sarada” Was closed friend with the rich man Sirivaddhaka After his father had passed away, Sarada gave all the possessions Left to the Himalayas, became hermit, have 24,000 followers Annomadasi went to Lamma mountain on the sky to praise Sarada hermits and followers

6. -Welcomed Buddha Offered the fruits Offered the drinking water to Buddha after purifying it with water filter Buddha and Arahats stayed in the flower bed in the order of the length of Buddhist lents Practiced Nirodhasamapatti for seven days Uttered Ashin Nisaba , the right disciple, Anumodana Dhamma Made the aspiration to become the right chief disciple in the time of Gotama Buddha

7. Present Life of the Thera - Became the son of Vankanta Brahmin and Rupasari living in Upatisa village near Rajagyo Known as “ Upatisa ” by taking reference to native Shin Moggallana was the son of Moggalli Brahmin Named Kolita They got apprehension at the Hilltop Festival Got ordination under Sanjaya Paribba Met Shin Assaji and listened to the Dhamma preached by Thera

8. Kolita entered into sotapatti Kolita became Arahat 7 days after his ordination, got the title of the left chief disciple Shin Sariputta got Etadagga for being foremost in wisdom Thera tried best for the prosperity of Sasana Went back to native village after passing 44 Buddhist lents Stayed at his mother’s house for one night and uttered Dhamma Passed away on that night A Stupa was built with the residual bone relics

9. Great Wisdom of the Thera - Competition of the belief between the daughter of the wealthy man of Rajagyo and Kontalakesa ascetic Shin Sariputta Thera can give the soloution Kontalakesa could not answer Thera’s question Thera uttered Kontalakesa to take refuge in Buddha, the noblest person in the world

10. The Wisdom of Shin Sariputtara can be found in Parosahasa jataka -Lived in Himalayas with 500 hermits The follower hermits asked where they could get noble Dhamma to their teacher hermit, when he was about to pass away Explained about akeincanayatana samapatti Buddha praised for the wisdom of Thera

11. Knowing the Gratitude of Teachers Was very respectful to his teacher Shin Assari Thera Paying worship to the direction where Shin Assari live Some monks told Buddha that Shin Sariputta had wrong belief Buddha asked Thera about that Then, Buddha told the monks that Thera was not the one who did not take refuge in Three Gems He was the one who knew it Thera treated his teacher respectfully like the fire

12. Returning Others’ Gratitude -Buddha was residing at Jetavunna monastery, near Savutthi There was a poor Brahmin called Rada That Brahmin did the duties of the monastery he was not interested in entering monkhood because of his age He was displeased for that Buddha foresaw the Brahmin would become Arahat

13. Buddha asked who owed gratitude to Radha Brahmin Thera answered he owed gratitude to Radha Brahmin and he would accept the Brahmin entered into monkhood Taught him ways to alms , rules to follow The Brahmin listened to the Brahmin’s guardiance Thera’s characteristics of returning others’ gratitude can be found

14. The Extraordinary Power of Thera It is found out that Thera has foremost wisdom He also had extraordinary power Buddha went to Veluva village, Savutthi and resided in Jetavunna monastery Paid homage to Buddha, concentrate the attainment stage of meditation Said to Buddha “It is time to release Aryusinkhara ” He paid homage to Buddha from his native village, Magavariza

15. He went up to the height of a palm tree and went back to the ground, pay homage to the feet of Buddha In this way he demonstrated his power by going up to the height of seven palm trees All the residents of Savutthi looked the view Thera descended from the sky Stood near the feet of Buddha, paid homage to the four direction in clockwise direction