Re: kaccaayanappakara.na

Dear Amara,

I think you can learn more about Mahakaccana by reading Bhikkhu
Bodhi's essay entitled:

Maha Kaccana: Master of Doctrinal Exposition
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/bps/wheels/wheel405.html

I don't know that much about him myself and I have yet to read the
article which is also posted on Abhidhamma.org. One could spend a lot
of time researching the Pali texts for more information. I did check
Malalasekara's entry on him but didn't find anything there about age
or the circumstances surrounding his parinibbana. That doesn't
necessarily mean to say there is nothing on this in the texts. I think
he may only have just the one etadagga distinction. I'll let you know
if I ever come across anything new. I'd like to make Mahaakaccaayana
the patron saint of this group.

Best wishes,

Jim

> Dear Jim,
>
> Thank you very much for this, I find it very interesting that the
> great Bhikkhu who was etadagga in expounding in detail the dhamma
> manifested in brief was also the one who recorded the linguistic
rules
> pertaining to the language used.  Could you perhaps tell us a little
> more about Mahaakaccaayana; for example in the Dictionary of Pali
> Proper Names, was he etadagga in other fields?  I seem to remember
> that some great disciples were foremost in more than one area of
> excellence.  Did it happen to mention when his parinibbana was, and
at
> what age?
>
> Thank you very much in advance,
>
> Amara
>