VÄseášášha
1. VÄseášášha. The constant attendant of NÄrada Buddha. J.i.37; Bu.x.23. 2. VÄseášášha, VÄsiášášha. The name of an old rishi held in high esteem for his knowledge. He was one of the originators of the Vedic runes.
Vin.i.245; D.i.104; M.ii.164, 200; Mil.162, etc.; cf. Vasistha in Vedic Index. 3. VÄseášášha. Name of a clan (gotta), probably tracing its descent to the sage VÄseášášha (Skt. Vasistha). In the MahÄ ParinibbÄna Sutta (D.ii.147, 159) we find the Mallas of KusinÄra addressed as VÄseášášhÄ, as well as the Mallas of PÄvÄ (D.iii.209). It was a clan held in esteem (ukkaášášha). e.g., Vin.iv.8. 4. VÄseášášha. A young brahmin who, with his friend BhÄradvÄja, visited the Buddha and held discussions with him. These discussions are recorded in the Tevijja Sutta, the VÄseášášha Sutta, and the Aggaùùa Sutta.
Buddhaghosa says (DA.ii.399; SNA.ii.463; cf. SN., p.116) that VÄseášášha was the chief disciple of PokkharasÄti. According to him again (DA.ii.406; cf.iii.860, 872), VÄseášášhaâs first visit to the Buddha was on the occasion of the teaching of the VÄseášášha Sutta, at the conclusion of which he accepted the Buddha as his teacher. He again did so, when, at his next visit, the Buddha taught him the Tevijja Sutta. Soon after, he entered the Order, and, at the conclusion of the teaching of the Aggaùùa Sutta, he was given the higher ordination and attained Arahantship. He belonged to a very rich family and renounced forty crores when he left the world. He was an expert in the three Vedas. 5. VÄseášášha. A lay disciple, evidently distinct from VÄseášášha (3). He visited the Buddha at the KĹŤášagÄrasÄlÄ in VesÄli and the Buddha taught him (A.iv.258). See VÄseášášha Sutta (2). He is mentioned among the Buddhaâs eminent lay disciples. A.iii.451. 6. VÄseášášha. A brahmin; see DhĹŤmakÄri. The scholiast explains (J.iii.402) that he belonged to the VÄseášášhagotta. 7. VÄseášášha. A brahmin of Kapilavatthu, father of Vappa Thera. ThagA.i.140. 8. VÄseášášha. A very rich brahmin, father of Sela Thera. Ap.i.318.
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