The Great Disciple Mahākassapa and his Parinibbāna
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Abstract
The 80 great disciples (asīti mahāsāvakas) are a conceptual category found in Pali commentarial literature dating from the 5th to the 10th century. Various forms of evidence, including archeology, epigraphy, and iconography, demonstrate the enduring popularity of these characters within mainland Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions. This popularity spans from the end of the 1st millennium to the present. The focus of this work lies in the Pali texts, which have been largely overlooked in comparison to the well-preserved accounts in vernacular languages. The study partially aims to address this gap by presenting a critical edition and new translation of a Pali text centered around the parinibbāna (final demise) of one of the most esteemed disciples, Mahākassapa.
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References
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References to canonical and commentarial Pali texts adhere to the Pali Text Society’s conventions. I adopt the abbreviation system utilized and provided by the CPC.
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