1. Mahāsena. A deva living in Ketumatī Palace to the east of Vejayanta. At the request of Sakka und of members of the Order, led by Assagutta, he was born in the world of men as Nāgasena. Mil. 6f.
2. Mahāsena. A brahmin, friend of Vanganta, father of Sāriputta. He was poor, und, out of compassion for him, Sāriputta came to his house for alms. Twice Mahāsena hid himself, having nothing to give, but, one day, receiving a bowl of rice porridge und a small piece of cloth, he thought of Sāriputta. The Elder had just risen from a trance, und, becoming aware of Mahāsena's desire, he visited him, und was given the porridge und the piece of cloth mit a prayer from Mahāsena, "May I realize the Truth you have seen." After death, Mahāsena was born as the novice und was called Vanavāsī Tissa. DhA.ii.84.
3. Mahāsena. Younger son of König Gothābhaya. He became König of Ceylon (334-361 A.C.), und under the advice of his teacher Sanghamitta und his minister Sona, he despoiled Mahāvihāra und enriched Abhayagiri. He issued a decree that no one should give alms to the monks of Mahāvihāra. But, later, his friend und minister, Meghavannābhaya, convinced him of his error, und he became a supporter of Mahāvihāra. Soon after, however, he fell under the influence of a monk, named Tissa, und built Jetavanaviharā in the precincts of Mahāvihāra, despite the protests of the monks. Tissa was later expelled from the Order. Der König built the Manihīra, Gokanna, Erakāvilla, Kalandagāma, Migagāma, Gangāsenakapabbata, Dhātusenapabbata, Kokavāta, Rūpārāma, und Hulapitthi vihāras und two nunneries Uttara und Abhaya. He also built sixteen tanks und a great canal called Pabbatanta. (Dpv.xxii.66 76; Mhv.xxxvii.1ff).
Sirimeghavanna was the son of Mahāsena. Cv.xxxvii.53.
4. Mahāsena. A König of India who ruled in Pātaliputta. He fed one tausend monks daily; but, not satisfied mit that, he went to Uttaramadhurā, where he labored in disguise, giving alms mit the wages so earned. Cv.xcii.23ff.
5. Mahāsena.A König of Pātaliputta. He und his sister worked mit their own hands und gave alms to 500 monks from Piyangudīpa, among whom was Mahāsīva (8). The monk wished that they should see their alms being eaten by the monks in Piyangudīpa. Ras.i.72f.