MahÄsena
1. MahÄsena. A deva living in KetumatÄ« Palace to the east of Vejayanta. At the request of Sakka and of members of the Order, led by Assagutta, he was born in the world of men as NÄgasena. Mil. 6f.
2. MahÄsena. A brahmin, friend of Vaá¹…ganta, father of SÄriputta. He was poor, and, out of compassion for him, SÄriputta came to his house for alms. Twice MahÄsena hid himself, having nothing to give, but, one day, receiving a bowl of rice porridge and a small piece of cloth, he thought of SÄriputta. The Elder had just risen from a trance, and, becoming aware of MahÄsena’s desire, he visited him, and was given the porridge and the piece of cloth with a prayer from MahÄsena, “May I realise the Truth you have seen.†After death, MahÄsena was born as the novice and was called VanavÄsÄ« Tissa. DhA.ii.84.
3. MahÄsena. Younger son of King GothÄbhaya. He became king of Sri Lanka (334-361 A.C.), and under the advice of his teacher Sanghamitta and his minister Sona, he despoiled MahÄvihÄra and enriched Abhayagiri. He issued a decree that no one should give alms to the monks of MahÄvihÄra. However, later, his friend and minister, MeghavannÄbhaya, convinced him of his error, and he became a supporter of MahÄvihÄra. Soon after, however, he fell under the influence of a monk, named Tissa, and built JetavanaviharÄ in the precincts of MahÄvihÄra, despite the protests of the monks. Tissa was later expelled from the Order. The king built the ManihÄ«ra, Gokanna, ErakÄvilla, KalandagÄma, MigagÄma, GangÄsenakapabbata, DhÄtusenapabbata, KokavÄta, RÅ«pÄrÄma, and Hulapitthi vihÄras and two nunneries Uttara and Abhaya. He also built sixteen tanks and a great canal called Pabbatanta. (Dpv.xxii.66 76; Mhv.xxxvii.1ff).
Sirimeghavanna was the son of MahÄsena. Cv.xxxvii.53.
4. MahÄsena.- A king of India who ruled in PÄá¹aliputta. He fed one thousand monks daily; but, not satisfied with that, he went to UttaramadhurÄ, where he labored in disguise, giving alms with the wages so earned. Cv.xcii.23ff.
5. MahÄsena.- A king of PÄá¹aliputta. He and his sister worked with their own hands and gave alms to 500 monks from Piyaá¹…gudÄ«pa, among whom was MahÄsÄ«va (8). The monk wished that they should see their alms being eaten by the monks in Piyaá¹…gudÄ«pa. Ras.i.72f.
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