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Kaṅkhā-Revata Thera

He attained Arahantship by way of practising absorption (jhāna), and so proficient in absorption did he become that the Buddha declared him chief of the monks who practised it (A.i.24; Ud.v.9; AA.i.129f; Thag.3; ThagA.33f). Before he became an Arahant he was greatly troubled in mind as to what was permissible for him to use and what was not (akappiyā muggā, na kappanti muggā paribhuñjituṃ). This characteristic of his became well known, hence his name “Revata the Doubter” (UdA.314).

In the time of Padumuttara he was a brahmin of Haṃsavatī, well versed in the Vedas. One day, while listening to the Buddha’s teaching, he heard him declare a monk in the assembly as chief among those who practised absorption, and himself wished for the same honour under a future Buddha (Ap.ii.419f). He is often mentioned in company with other very eminent disciples — e.g., Anuruddha, Nandiya, Kimbila, Kundadhāna and Ānanda — at the teaching of the Nalakapāna Sutta (M.i.462). The Mahāgosiṅga Sutta (M.i.212ff) records a discussion between Moggallāna, Mahā Kassapa, Anuruddha, Revata and Ānanda, and there we find Revata praising, as the highest type of monk, one who delights in meditation and has his habitation in the abodes of solitude.

Kaṅkhā-Revata appears to have survived the Buddha.

In the Uttaramātu-peta Vatthu (PvA.141ff), Uttara’s mother having been born as a hungry ghost (peta), and having wandered about for fifty-five years without water, came upon Revata enjoying the siesta on the banks of the Ganges and begged him for succor. Having learnt her story, Revata gave various gifts to the Saṅgha in her name, and so brought her happiness.

Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names • G.P. Malalasekera