Devadatta
Who was Devadatta
Devadatta was the Buddha’s cousin and a monk who became his chief opponent, attempting to usurp leadership of the Sangha. When that failed, he created a schism within it.
Early history
Devadatta joined the sangha along with other Sakya princes, including Ananda, who was his brother. Initially a diligent monk, over time Devadatta was consumed by pride, envy, and ill-will toward the Buddha and his chief disciples.
Assassination attempts on the Buddha
Devadatta secured the friendship and support of Prince Ajatasattu of Magadha, then made three attempts to kill the Buddha:
- Hired assassins - Devadatta hired archers to kill the Buddha, but instead the archers converted to Buddhism
- Boulder from the mountain - Devadatta pushed a massive boulder from Vulture Peak while the Buddha was meditating below. The rock split, and only a fragment grazed the Buddha’s foot, causing minor bleeding (which meant automatic rebirth in hell)
- Maddened elephant - He intoxicated an elephant named Nalagiri with palm wine and released it on the road where Gotama was walking. However, when the elephant approached the Buddha, it calmed down, and the Buddha simply scratched it behind the ears
Schism in the sangha
After the failed assassination, Devadatta decided to create a schism. He proposed that the Buddha impose five stricter rules for all monks:
- Become vegetarians and completely abstain from fish and meat
- Live only in the forest (never entering a town)
- Eat only alms food, never accepting meal invitations
- Wear robes only from collected rags
- Live under trees and never enter houses
The Buddha refused to make these rules mandatory, stating that those who wish may follow them, but they should not be imposed on the entire community. Seizing on this refusal, Devadatta accused the Buddha of a luxurious lifestyle and led away about 500 newly ordained monks to form his own community.
Later, the Buddha’s chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana, went to Devadatta’s community and convinced most monks to return to the Buddha. But accounts from Chinese pilgrims of the early centuries CE indicate that Devadatta’s followers still existed at that time. They practiced the same Buddhism but revered the three Buddhas before Gotama rather than Gotama himself.
The end of Devadatta
Tradition holds that Devadatta fell ill and, repenting, decided to see the Buddha. However, as he approached the monastery, the earth swallowed him, sending him straight to hell where he was to endure unbearable suffering as the immediate karmic consequence of all his crimes.
Spiritual attainments
According to legend, Devadatta deeply practiced the jhanas and attained worldly supernatural powers (iddhi). However, he made no progress in wisdom and could not even reach the level of Sotapanna. In the suttas, Devadatta is an illustration of “power without wisdom.”