• Moggallāna

1. Moggallāna. See Mahā-Moggallāna.

2. Moggallāna. A celebrated Pāli grammarian of the twelfth century. P.L.C. 179f.

3. Moggallāna. Thera of Ceylon, author of the Abhidhānappadīpikā. P.L.C. 187ff.

4. Moggallāna. Younger son of Dhātusena. When his brother, Kassapa, took Dhātusena captive, Moggallāna fled to Jambudīpa. He collected troops, and, in the eighteenth year of Kassapa's reign, landed in Ceylon with twelve friends, counting on the support of the Niganthas. He lived for a time at Kuthārī vihāra in Ambatthakola making preparations. Kassapa came out of Sīhagiri to meet him, and, being defeated in battle, committed suicide. Moggallāna thereupon became king as Moggallāna I., making Anurādhapura once more the capital. At first he showed great cruelty to his father's enemies, earning the title of "Rakkhasa," but later he became gentle and engaged himself in good works. He patronized the Dhammaruci and Sāgalika schools and gave them the Dalha  and Dāthakondañña vihāras at Sīhagiri. To Mahānāma, incumbent of Dīghāsana (? Dīghāsanda) vihāra he gave the Pabbata-vihāra, and the Rājñī nunnery to the Sāgalika nuns. In Moggallāna's reign, Silākāla (Amba Sāmanera) brought the Buddha's Hair relic to Ceylon. Moggallāna instituted celebrations in its honour and gave them into the charge of Silākāla, who left the Order and became his sword bearer (asiggāhaka). Migāra and Uttara were two of his generals. He reigned for eighteen years (496 513 A.C.). (Cv.xxxviii.80, 86ff., 96, 108; xxxix.20ff). Moggallāna's sister married Upatissa III. Cv.xli.6.

5. Moggallāna. Eldest son of Ambasāmanera Silākāla. He was made Ādipāda and put in charge of the Eastern Province. He had two brothers, Dāthāpabhuti and Upatissa. On the death of Silākāla the former seized the throne and murdered Upatissa. Moggallāna marched against him with an army and challenged him to single combat. The challenge was accepted, and the brothers fought, each on an elephant. Dātāpabhuti was defeated and killed himself, and Moggallāna became king as Moggallāna II., also known as Culla Moggallāna. He was a great poet and a very good man. He held recitals of the Pitakas and the Commentaries in various parts of the Island and encouraged the study of the Dhamma. He once composed a poem in praise of the Dhamma and recited it while seated on the back of his elephant.

By means of damming up the Kadamba River, he constructed three tanks -  Pattapāsāna, Dhanavāpi and Garītara. He ruled for twenty years (537 56), and was succeeded by his son Kittisirimegha. Cv.xli.33f., 43 63.

6. Moggallāna. A general of Aggabodhi II. He revolted against Sanghatissa, and, after some reverses, defeated him, with the help of the treacherous senāpati, at Pācīnatissapabbata. He then became king as Moggallāna III. and was known as Dabba Moggallāna (Cv.xliv.63). He did many good deeds, among them being the construction of the Moggallāna , Pitthigāma  and Vatagāma vihāras. He made Sanghatissa's senāpati ruler of Malaya, but later quarrelled with him and had his hands and feet cut off. The senāpati's son rose in revolt and killed the king near Sīhagiri. Moggallāna ruled for six years (511-17 A.C.). Cv.xliv.3-62.

7. Moggallāna. Son of Lokītā and Kassapa. Loka was his brother. Moggallāna was known by the title of Mahāsāmi (see Cv. Trs.i.195, n. 5) and lived in Rohana. He married Lokitā, daughter of Buddhā, and had four sons: Kitti (afterwards Vijayabāhu I.), Mitta, Mahinda and Rakkhita. Cv.lvii.29f., 41f.

8. Moggallāna. An eminent Thera who was associated with Mahā Kassapa in the Council held at Pulatthipura under the patronage of Parakkamabāhu I. for the purification of the Order. Cv.lxxviii.9.

9. Moggallāna. See Sikha Moggallāna. Also Ganaka Moggallāna and Gopaka Moggallāna.