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Bhūtapāla

1. Bhūtapāla.– An example of one who possessed ñāṇa-vipphāra-iddhi ¹ (PS.ii.211). He was the child of a poor man of Rājagaha, and went one day with his father in a cart to the forest to collect firewood. By the time they returned to the town gate, evening had fallen. The cart was halted awhile, and the oxen, having got free from the yoke, entered the town. Telling the child to sit near the cart, the father set off after the oxen. Before he could return, the gate was shut, and the child owed his escape during the night from wild beasts and demons to his ñāṇa-vipphāra-iddhi.

Although the place where he slept was near to a cemetery, no evil spirit could harm the boy as that birth was destined to be his last. He later joined the Order and became an Arahant, being famed as Bhūtapāla Thera. PSA. 493 f; Vism.379 f.

¹ This seems to refer to some kind of mental agility (ed.)

2. Bhūtapāla.– The Vibhaṅga Commentary in explaining the term “kāsāvapajjota” says that it means “resplendent with the colour of orange, completely (ekobhāsinī) like the family of Bhūtapālaseṭṭhi” (Bhūtapālaseṭṭhikulasadisānī). VibhA.342; see also Bhūtavālika.