29. Ven. Mahā Koṭṭhita
Aspiration in the Past
The future Koṭṭhita was born into a wealthy family in the royal city of Haṁsavatī during the time of Buddha Padumuttara. While he was listening to the Buddha’s discourse, he witnessed a monastic being named by the Buddha as the foremost monastic among those who attained the fourfold analytical knowledge. He was very enthusiastic to become such a great monastic in the future. As with all future great venerables, he made a great offering and, after which, he expressed his aspiration before the Buddha. The Buddha made the prediction that his aspiration would be fulfilled in the future, before leaving for his monastery.
The future Ven. Koṭṭhita lived a life filled with good deeds, passed away and was reborn in the Deva realm and subsequently, either in the human realm or the Deva realm.
Ascetic Life in His Final Existence
At the time of Buddha Gotama, he was reborn into a Brahmin family in Sāvatthī, and was named Koṭṭhita. When he came of age, he mastered the three Vedas. One day, on hearing the Buddha’s discourse, he became so devoted to the Buddha that he joined the Saṅgha. Since then, he meditated for insight and became an Arahat and was endowed with the fourfold analytical knowledge (paṭisambhidā-ñāṇa).
Foremost Title Achieved
After attainment of Awakening, Ven. Koṭṭhita, as an adept at the fourfold analytical knowledge, usually posed his question on these forms of knowledge. Thus, with reference to the Long Discourse giving an Elaboration (Mahā-vedalla-sutta, MN 43) the Buddha declared:
Etad-aggaṁ bhikkhave mama sāvakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ
paṭisambhidā-pattānaṁ yad-idaṁ Mahākoṭṭhito.
Monastics, among my monastic disciples who attained the fourfold analytical knowledge, Mahā Koṭṭhita is the foremost (etad-agga).