Pen Portraits

No 74. Arahant Punnaji Maha Thera

Lay Life and Friendship

The young man Puṇṇaji was born into a very wealthy merchant family in Bārāṇasī (Benares). His closest childhood friend was the merchant’s son of Bārāṇasī, named Yasa.

Yasa had four other close friends named Vimala, Subāhu, Puṇṇaji, and Gavampati. Since all five were born into affluent families of that era, they led lives rich in great material possessions and comfort.

The Cause for Ordination

During the time when the Exalted Buddha was residing in Isipatana Migadāya (Deer Park) near Bārāṇasī after attaining Enlightenment, the merchant’s son Yasa became disillusioned with worldly life. He left his home and came to the Migadāya. The Buddha preached the Dhamma to Yasa, and upon hearing the discourse, Yasa attained Arahantship.

The news of Yasa’s ordination and attainment reached his four friends. They were filled with astonishment and joy.

“If Yasa has abandoned his vast material wealth and chosen such an excellent path, there must certainly be something special and supremely noble in it.”

Determined to find the path that Yasa had taken, the young Puṇṇaji, along with his three friends, left their affluent homes in Bārāṇasī and went to the Isipatana Migadāya in search of Yasa, the Noble Son.

Attainment of Arahantship

The five friends went together and paid homage to the Buddha. The Venerable Yasa introduced his former friends to the Exalted One.

The four friends were greatly inspired and requested the Exalted One’s permission to be ordained under Him.

Seeing the strong determination in their minds, having abandoned their worldly pleasures, the Buddha ordained them with the “Ehi Bhikkhu” (Come, Monk) Upasampadā (Higher Ordination). Thus, the young Puṇṇaji became the Venerable Puṇṇaji.

Subsequently, the Buddha delivered the Gradual Discourse (Anupubbī Kathā) to all five monks (on generosity, morality, heaven, the disadvantages of sensual pleasures, and the advantages of renunciation). At the conclusion of this discourse, the Venerable Puṇṇaji and the other four monks eliminated all defilements and attained the state of Arahantship.

Sāsanic Service (Contribution to the Dispensation)

After attaining Arahantship, the Venerable Puṇṇaji Mahā Thera was among the first group of sixty Arahants sent forth by the Buddha.

The Exalted Buddha addressed the Arahants and commanded:

“Caratha bhikkhave cārikaṃ bahujanahitāya, bahujanasukhāya, lokānukampāya…”
(Go forth, O Monks, on tour for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world…)

Following this supreme command, the venerable Puṇṇaji Mahā Thera, too, dedicated himself to spreading the light of the Dhamma among the people in various regions. Through his Dhamma discourses, many came to comprehend the path to liberation from the suffering of Saṃsāra.

His Significance

The life of the Venerable Puṇṇaji Mahā Thera is significant for two reasons:

• Renunciation of Wealth: He was born into a wealthy family, yet he easily abandoned all secular pleasures to seek spiritual truth.

• Early Member of the Saṅgha: He belonged to the second group of monks to attain Arahantship, following the group of the Venerable Yasa and his four friends. Therefore, he was one of the earliest and most sublime followers of the Buddha’s Dispensation.

The Venerable Puṇṇaji Mahā Thera, endowed with Jhānas (meditative absorptions), Tēvijjā (Threefold Knowledge), and Chaḷabhiññā (Six Super-Knowledges), is an extremely revered figure among the Eighty Great Disciples who dedicated their lives to propagating the Dhamma-Cakra (Wheel of Dhamma) throughout the world.

Note: The scriptural details about the Arahant Puṇṇaji from the Buddha’s time are brief. This detailed description is constructed based on the historical sequence of events in which he played a central role (the ordination of Yasa and his friends).