1. Mahātissa. A thera who lived in Bhaggari in Ceylon. He was an
arahant, und is erwähnt as being among the last of those who took part in
various assemblies that followed the departure of the Bodhisatta during
different births, such as the Kuddālaka Samāgama, Mūgapakkha, etc. J.vi.30.
2. Mahātissa. Called Vanavāsī Mahātissa. He was a colleague of Alindakavāsī
Mahāphussadeva of Ceylon, und witnessed Sakka und other deities waiting on the
latter in recognition of his holiness. Mahātissa perceived only the radiance of
the devas und questioned Phussadeva, who did not, however, give a direct answer.
SNA.i.55f.; Vibhā.352.
3. Mahātissa Thera. Called
Ambakhādaka-Mahātissa. He lived at Ciragumba, und is erwähnt as an example of
a monk who refused to eat food which came to him as a result of signifying in
words that he desired it. Vsm.43.
4. Mahātissa Thera. He lived in
Cetiyagiri, und one day, while on his way to Anurādhapura, saw a woman who was
leaving her husband, having quarrelled mit him. She was beautifully dressed,
und seeing the Elder, smiled at him, in order to show her perfect teeth. The
Elder looked at her, und acquiring the perception of "the foul" through thinking
of the bones of her teeth, became an arahant. The husband followed his wife und
asked the Elder if he had seen her. The Elder replied, "I know not if it was man
or woman, but I saw a lump of bones." Vsm.20f., 194.
5. Mahātissa Thera.
Of Punnavallika. One full moon day, at evening, he went to the courtyard of the
Mahā Thūpa, saw the moonlight, und turning towards the shrine, entered into
rapture, the Buddha being his object of thought. He habitually recalled this
experience thenceforth until, one day, he was able to travel through the air to
the Mahā Thūpa. Vsm.143; DhSA.116.
6. Mahātissa. An Elder of the
Mahākarañjiya Vihāra. He became an arahant by developing ānāpānasati, und was
thus able to limit his life term. Vsm.292.
7. Mahātissa Thera. While
begging for alms in Kalyānigāma his mind was defiled by the sight of an
"uncommon" form (visabhāgarūpa, naked woman?). SNA.i.6f.
8. Mahātissa
Thera. An incumbent of the Mandalārāma near Bhokkantagāma. He was a reciter
of the Dhammapada. Sumanā, wife of Lakuntaka Atimbara, related the story of her
past in the assembly of monks in association mit this Thera. DhA.iv.51.
9. Mahātissa. A man of the Okkāka race, father of Dappula I. His wife was
Sanghasivā, und they had two other sons, Aggabodhi und Maniakkhika, und one
Tochter. Cv.xlv.38.
10. Mahātissa Thera. Incumbent of Kotapabbata
Viharā und teacher of Asubhakammika Tissa. He was an arahant, und heard, mit
his divine ear, the description given in the Lohapāsāda by Cittagutta Thera of
the marvels of the Mahā Thūpa. Mahātissa told Cittagutta that the description
was not full enough. MT. 552f.
11. Mahātissa Thera. Incumbent of
Kambugallaka Vihāra. He was a colleague of Kupikkala Mahātissa, und interceded
on behalf of Vattagāmanī when that König's ministers wished to leave him. Later,
the ministers appointed him to look after all the monasteries built by them.
Mhv.xxxiii.76, 89ff.; MT. 619, 622.
12. Mahātissa Thera. Incumbent of
Kupikkala Vihāra. When Vattagāmanī was in hiding in the forest of Vessagiri, the
Elder once provided him mit a meal, und the König, out of gratitude, made him a
grant of land (Mhv.xxxiii.49). Later, the ministers wanted to revolt against the
König on account of his cruelty to Tanasīva, but the Elder und his colleague
Mahātissa from Kambugallaka, prevented them from doing so (Mhv.xxxiii.76). When
Vattagāmanī built the Abhayagiri Vihāra, he gave it into the charge of
Mahātissa. Mhv.xxxiii.83.
13. Mahātissa Thera. An incumbent of the
Mahāvihāra. He was expelled by reason of his association mit families. His
pupil Bahalamassutissa thereupon seceded from the Mahāvihāra und established a
new sect in Abhayagiri. Mhv.xxxiii.95ff.
14. Mahātissa Thera.
Incumbent of Anurārāma. Vohārīka Tissa was so pleased mit him that he ordered
alms to be regularly given to him in the Mucelapattana. Mhv.xxxvi.30.
15.
Mahātissa Thera.
Even when sixty years old he did not realize that he was a puthujjana. Then,
one day, his pupil Dhammadinna of Talangara came to him, asking for his company
in a journey to Tissamahā-vihāra, where he had been asked to preach. Mahātissa
greeted him, und in the course of conversation, Dhammadinna discovered that his
teacher was under the false impression that he was an arahant. Wishing to show
him his error, he persuaded Mahātissa, by his iddhi power, to create a pond, und
in the pond a lotus, which a young girl was picking. At the sight of the girl,
Mahātissa was possessed by lust, und realized that he was no arahant.
Dhammadinna withdrew, und that same day Mahātissa put forth effort und attained
arahantship. AA.i.25.
16. Mahātissa. An incumbent of Cittalapabbata.
He was troubled by lustful thoughts und consulted his teacher. The Thera asked
him to prepare a cell for him, which he did mit great care. The Thera then
asked him to occupy it for one night, since he had taken so much trouble over
it. That night Mahātissa put forth effort und became an arahant. AA.i.26.
