Punnaka: 1 definition

Introduction:

Punnaka means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Punna, Punnaka Thera

He was born in the family of a householder of Supparaka in the Sunaparanta country. When he was grown up, he went with a great caravan of merchandise to Savatthi where, having heard the Buddha preach, he left the world and joined the Order. He won favour by attention to his duties. One day he asked the Buddha for a short lesson so that, having learnt it, he might go back to dwell in Sunaparanta. The Buddha preached to him the Punnovada Sutta (q.v.). So Punna departed, and, in Sunaparanta, he became an arahant. There he won over many disciples, both male and female, and having built for the Buddha a cell out of red sandalwood (Candanasala), he sent him a flower by way of invitation. The Buddha came with five hundred arahants, spent a night in the cell, and went away before dawn.

Ninety one kappas ago, when there was no Buddha alive, Punna was a learned brahmin, and later became a hermit in Himava. Near his abode a Pacceka Buddha died, and at the moment of his death there appeared a great radiance. The ascetic cremated the body and sprinkled scented water on the pyre to extinguish the flames. A deva, witnessing the event, prophesied his future greatness. His name throughout his many lives was Punna or Punnaka. Thag. vs. 70; ThagA.i.156 ff.; Ap.ii.341.

Kundadhana was the first among the arahants to be chosen to accompany the Buddha to Sunaparanta. Sakka provided five hundred palanquins for the journey, one of which was empty. This was subsequently taken by the ascetic Saccabandha, whom the Buddha converted and ordained on the way. On his return journey, the Buddha stopped at the river Nammada,

2. Punnaka. One Of the stallions of Ekaraja. J.vi.135.

3. Punnaka. One of the sixteen disciples of Bavari, who visited the Buddha (SN. vs. 1006). His conversation with the Buddha is given in the Punnakamanavapuccha (Ibid., 1043 48). At the end of the interview Punnaka and his one thousand followers became arahants. SNA.ii.590.

4. Punnaka. A Yakkha chief, nephew of Vessavana (J.vi.255). The story of how he won the Naga maiden Irandati is related in the Vidhurapandita Jataka. In his previous birth he had been a young man named Kaccayana in the Anga country. J.vi.273f.; he is also called Katiyana (Kaccana). He is also referred to as Punnakaraja (J.iv.182). He is evidently identical with the Yakkha chieftain mentioned in the Atanitiya Sutta (D.iii.204) among those to be invoked by followers of the Buddha in times of tribulation. The gem used by Punnaka as a stake in his gambling with Koravya was such that all things in the world could be seen in it (MT. 552). The shout of victory uttered by Punnaka when he defeated Koravya was one of the four shouts heard throughout Jambudipa. SNA.i.223.

5. Punnaka. A king of twenty five kappas ago, a former birth of Asanabodhiya Thera. Ap.i.111.

6. Punnaka. Punnaka was evidently not a name of high station. E.g., J.vi.273.

7. Punnaka. See also s.v. Punna.

Punnaka Jataka. Another name for the Vidhurapandita Jataka.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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