Moggallana

Who He Was

One of the Buddha’s two chief disciples (together with Sāriputta), known as the master of supernatural powers (iddhi). His lay name was Kolita. Together with Sāriputta (they were close friends even before meeting the Buddha), he searched for a spiritual teacher for a long time until hearing a sermon by Assaji, a disciple of the Buddha. After meeting Gotama, both took ordination and attained arahantship - Moggallāna just one week after ordination.

Distinctive Qualities

Moggallāna was considered the embodiment of energy, intuitive realization, and mental strength. He used his abilities not for display but to help others: subduing spirits, guiding disciples, and protecting the Saṅgha. He is also credited with restoring the unity of the community after the schism caused by Devadatta.

Final Days

Moggallāna was killed at the age of 84, shortly after Sāriputta’s death. A rival spiritual sect hired bandits for his murder. In Buddhist texts, his death is described as the consequence of heavy old kamma (in a past life he had killed his parents). Unlike Gotama, Sāriputta, Ānanda, and other disciples of the Buddha, Moggallāna died in extreme pain, yet he maintained the equanimity of an arahant to the very end.

Legacy

In East Asian countries he is revered for his example of filial gratitude: the story of how he rescued his mother from the realm of hungry ghosts became the basis for the Ullambana Festival (Ghost Festival), when merit is dedicated to deceased ancestors.

His Place in the Teaching

If Sāriputta embodied wisdom, Moggallāna embodied inner strength, the depth of concentration, and the spiritual powers that arise from it. His path is an example of how energy and compassion can unite in the serenity of a liberated mind.