The theme is to pay tribute to the 80 Maha Arahants and the 13 Maha Theri Arahants who had by their efforts won emancipation of a rare distinction. They belonged to the innermost circles in the life of the Gautama Buddha. The Buddha and the Maha Arahants were together most of the time.
No 75. Nadi Kassapa Maha Thera
Among the great Arahants (fully enlightened ones) who appeared in the dispensation of our Blessed One (the Buddha) and possessed incomparable virtues, the Venerable Nadi Kassapa Mahathera holds a special place. His life story is truly a perfect example of a noble journey that abandoned worldly pleasures and progressed toward supreme spiritual liberation.
Early Life and Ordination
Nadi Kassapa Thera was one of the three Kassapa brothers who lived during the time of the Gautama Buddha. Before entering the Sangha (Buddhist Order), he was the leader of a group of about a thousand Jaṭila ascetics.
* His elder brother was Uruvela Kassapa, and his younger brother was Gayā Kassapa.
Life as an Ascetic
He resided on a river bank (nadi tīra) and led a group of about three hundred Jaṭila ascetics, practicing ascetic disciplines centered around the Agni Pūjā (fire sacrifice/worship). He received the name ‘Nadi Kassapa’ (River Kassapa) because he lived on the river bank.
After his Enlightenment, while the Buddha was residing in the Uruvela region, the elder brother, the Jaṭila Uruvela Kassapa, was subdued by the Buddha’s immense power and miracles. He, along with his five hundred ascetics, was admitted to the Buddha’s dispensation.
Upon hearing the news of the Venerable Uruvela Kassapa’s ordination, the ascetic Nadi Kassapa was greatly astonished. This was because Uruvela Kassapa was a person of very strong convictions who highly valued his own ascetic practices.
Pondering the wonder in the Buddha’s dispensation that could lead his elder brother to ordain, Nadi Kassapa, along with his three hundred followers, came to the place where the Buddha resided.
There, Nadi Kassapa and his group of disciples received the Pabbajjā (going forth) and Upasampadā (higher ordination) from the Buddha.
Attaining Arahantship: The Āditta Pariyāya Sutta
The Buddha traveled with the thousand Jaṭila ascetics, including the newly ordained Kassapa brothers, to the Gayā Sīsa (Gayā Peak) mountain. There, the Buddha delivered the ‘Āditta Pariyāya Sutta’ (The Fire Sermon) with them as the focus.
* Essence of the Discourse: Āditta Pariyāya means the discourse on “burning.” The Buddha pointed out that the sense organs (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind), the sense objects received by them (forms, sounds, odors, tastes, tangible objects, and mental objects), and the consciousness arising from them are all constantly burning with the fire of greed (rāga), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha).
Having listened to this profound Dhamma discourse, the Venerable Nadi Kassapa Thera with his brothers
Nadi Kassapa Mahathera and all one thousand Jaṭila ascetics had the supreme fortune of realizing the fruit of Arahantship on that very day.
The Significance of Venerable Nadi Kassapa
The life story of the Venerable Nadi Kassapa Mahathera teaches us:
* The Search for Truth: His noble virtue was the ability to abandon long-held views and practices when he encountered the true Dhamma, even after spending many years engaging in other disciplines.
* Fraternal Bond: Following the example of his elder brother and entering the Noble Path.
* The Power of the Dhamma: The fact that three hundred people attained Arahantship from a single Sutta discourse demonstrates the ultimate purity and power inherent in the Buddha’s dispensation.
The Venerable Nadi Kassapa Mahathera is a shining disciple in the Buddha’s dispensation who attained the supreme state of Arahantship.
His biography is an inspiration for all of us, fostering the desire to be freed from false views, progress on the correct path, and realize the Dhamma.
Therāpadāna (The Legends of the Theras)
Nadī-Kassapa
When Padumuttara Buddha,
the World’s Best One, the Neutral One,
was wandering about for alms,
maintaining superlative fame,
taking the best fruit of some sort,
I gave it to him, the Teacher,
The Biped-Lord, the World’s Best One,
Bull of Men. Due to that karma,
I’ve attained the unshaking state
beyond all conquest and defeat.
In the hundred thousand aeons
since I gave that donation then,
I’ve come to know no bad rebirth:
that’s the fruit of giving the best.
My defilements are now burnt up;
all new existence is destroyed.
Like elephants with broken chains,
I am living without constraint.
Being in Best Buddha’s presence
was a very good thing for me.
The three knowledges are attained;
I have done what the Buddha taught!
The four analytical modes,
and these eight deliverances,
six special knowledges mastered,
I have done what the Buddha taught!
Thus indeed Venerable Nadīkassapa Thera spoke these verses.
Source :
1. Gayan Ranaweera (Buddha’s Teaching FB Page)
2. Sutta Central – Jonathan S. Walters
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