Anuruddha was one of the five head disciples and a cousin of Gautama Buddha.
Early years
Anuruddha was the son of Sukkhodana and brother of Mahanama. As Sukkhodana was the brother of Suddhodana, king of the
Sakyas in Kapilavastu, Anuruddha was cousin to Siddhartha,
who was later to become Gautama Buddha. He was a kshatriya by birth. He grew up in a life of luxury, dwelling in a different house for each season, surrounded
by dancers and mimes. Two years after the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, he returned to
Kapilavastu to preach his his ideas in the Sakyan kingdom. At that time, along with Ananda and
Devadatta, two other cousins of the Buddha.[1] This came after he also needed to convince his cousin Bhaddiya to accompany
him, in order to gain his mother's permission. Together they went with Ananda, Bhagu, Kimbila, Devadatta and their barber
Upali, to the Buddha at the Anupiya Mango Grove and were ordained.[2]
Religious life
By the end of the rainy season, Anuruddha acquired "divine vision" (dibba-cakkhu), and was later ranked foremost among
those who had attained it. Anuruddha was then assigned by Sariputta the eight thoughts of a
great man as a meditation topic. Journeying into the Pacinavamsadaya in the Ceti country to practise these, he was able to master
seven, but could not learn the eighth. After the Buddha became aware of this, he visited Anuruddha and taught it to him.
Anuruddha developed insight and then realised arahantship.[2]
Depiction
Anuruddha is depicted in the Pali Canon as an affectionate and loyal bhikkhu, abundantly affectionate to the Buddha, and stood near the Buddha in assembly. At one point, when the
Buddha was disappointed with the arguments of the monks at Kosambi, he retreated to
Pacinavamsadaya that he repaired, to stay with Anuruddha in more tranquil conditions. In many texts, even when a large number of
distinguished monks were present, Anuruddha is often the recipient of the Buddha's questions, and answers on behalf of the
sangha.[2]
After the Buddha
Anuruddha was present when the Buddha died at Kusinara. He was foremost in consoling the monks and admonishing them as to
their future course of action, reminding them of the Buddha's decree to follow the dharma.[2] He was also one of the few to realise when the Buddha had died. As the Buddha
was reclining and going through the jhanas, Ananda said to Anuruddha: "The Exalted One has
attained final Nibbana, Venerable Sir." Anuruddha, having divine vision, stated that the Buddha was absorbed in the state of
"cessation," but had not yet died. To recognize this difference of a state of mind was only possible for an arahant, who was like
Anuruddha skilled in clairvoyance, while Ananda was yet to become an arahant.[1] Anuruddha was also consulted by the Mallas of Kusinara regarding the Buddha's last obsequies. Later, at the First Buddhist Council, he played a notable
role and was entrusted with the custody of the Anguttara Nikaya. Anuruddha died at
Veluvagama in the Vajji country, in the shade of a bamboo thicket. He was one hundred and fifteen years old at the time of his
death.[2]
Depictions in the Jataka
Anuruddha is depicted frequently in the Jataka, which describes the previous
reincarnations of Buddhist figures. In the time of Padumuttara Buddha time he had
been a wealthy householder. Hearing one of the monks declared best among possessors of the celestial eye, he desired a similar
honour in the future. He performed acts of merit, including the holding of a great feast of light in front of the Buddha's tomb.
In Kassapa Buddha's era he had reincarnated and was born in Varanasi; one day he placed bowls filled with clarified butter around the Buddha's tomb and set them alight,
circumambulated the tomb throughout the night, bearing on his head a lighted bowl.[2]
He was reborn in an impoverished family in Varanasi and was named Annabhara. One day, while working for his master, the banker
Sumana, he gave his meal to a Pacceka Buddha, Uparittha. The banker, having heard of Annabhara's pious deed, rewarded him by
helping to establish a business for him. The king, impressed with him, gave him a site for a house, and when the ground beneath
was excavated, yielded much buried treasure.[2]
References
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