1

10 MAJOR
DISCIPLES
OF THE BUDDHA
1. Sariputra/ Shariputra The
master of Wisdom

2. Moggallana The Master of

Transcendental/Supernatural
Powers
3. Mahakasyapa The Master of
Ascetic Training
4. Subhuti He understood the
effectiveness of emptiness
5. Purna Maitrayani-Putra The
Master of Preaching
6. Katyayana He understood
the Buddhas lectures best
7. Anuradha The Master of
Clairvoyance
8. Upali Top Master of Vinaya
9. Rahula The First Novice
Monk
10. Ananda The Disciple who

THE 10 MAJOR DISCIPLES OF THE BUDDHA

During the lifetime of Buddha, he countered numerous people and his encounter with
those people has transformed many people and followed him since then.
During his forty-five years of lifetime, many became his disciples but there are Ten
Principal Disciples of Lord Buddha who carried on his teachings, his dharma and spread
Buddhism far wider.
Each disciple were known for a specific quality or area and being a foremost among all
the Buddhas disciples.
1. Sariputra/ Shariputra The master of Wisdom
Sariputra , also known as Upatissa was one of the two chief male
disciples of Lord Buddha.
He attained Nirvana and became Arhat and became known as
Foremost in Wisdom . He was also renowned for his teaching.
Even Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara preaches to Sariputra in Heart
Sutra .
He was praised by Lord Buddha as an enthusiastic and effective
Dharma Teacher: You are wise, Sariputta, great and wide is your
wisdom, joyful and quick is your wisdom, sharp and analytical is
your wisdom.
Sariputra attained Enlightenment after two weeks of his ordination.
2. Moggallana The Master of Transcendental/Supernatural Powers
Mogallana was another chief male disciple of Lord Buddha and
was also known as Maudgalyayana.
He was the top masters and possesses transcendental powers.
Moggallana and Sariputra were close friends and went to seek
the preaching and teachings of Lord Buddha after they became
unsatisfied with Sanjaya Belatthaputta (another teacher who
had different ideas).
Moggallana is depicted as the monk with a dark complexion.
Moggallana , since he possessed psychic powers, usually used
this power to help peoples.

3. Mahakasyapa The Master of Ascetic Training

Mahakasyapa was known for his ascetic practices .
After Lord Buddha attained final nirvana , he along other 500
disciples assembled Buddhas Suttas and became the
leadership of Sangha .
And he became the first man who directly preached about the
teachings and sutras of Buddha .
Mahakasyapa is also called father of sangha .

4. Subhuti He understood the effectiveness of emptiness.

Subhuti was one of the ten Great Disciples of Gautama Buddha .
Subhuti was known as foremost in understanding the doctrine
of emptiness.
He appears in several Sutras of Mahyna Buddhism which
teach nyat (Emptiness or Voidness).

5. Purna Maitrayani-Putra The Master of Preaching

Purna Maitrayani-Putra is also called Purna and was well
known as foremost in preaching the law.
Purna was very enthusiastic disciple of Gautama Buddha and
was very good in his preaching.
Purna had always thought about the future of Buddhism and
took necessary steps for spreading the Buddha seeds .
There was no evidence of Purna attaining Nirvana . He had only
preached around for the future of Buddhism and serving the
public.

6. Katyayana He understood the Buddhas lectures best

Katyayana , also known as Mahakatyayana was one of the 10
principal Disciples of Gautama Buddha .
He was known as foremost in spreading the Dharma , taught by
Buddha . He understood the lecture of Lord Buddha the best.
He was allowed to learn the Vinaya by the Buddha

7. Anuradha The Master of Clairvoyance

Anuradha was a cousin of Shakyamuni Buddha .
He and Ananda became the disciple of Lord Buddha at the
same time.
He was foremost in divine insight. He was the master of
clairvoyance.
And later he got another pair of eyes that is believed to have
the power to see the truth.

8. Upali Top Master of Vinaya

Upali was working as a barber before he joined Buddha .

He was foremost in observing the precepts. He became the

disciple of Buddha when he was cutting Buddhas hair.
Actually, Upali was born in the lowest class of Indian Society, so
he was hesitant when he asked if he could join Lord Buddha
being the lower class man such as himself.
Later Upali became Arhat and became the chief disciple and
later developed Vinaya School .

9. Rahula The First Novice Monk

According to history, Rahula was the only son of
Shakyamuni Buddha before he became Buddha.
He is one of the 10 Great Disciples of Lord Buddha .
He became a monk when he was still a child and achieved
Enlightenment at the age of 18.
He was the first novice monk in the hometown of Lord
Buddha.

10. Ananda The Disciple who listened to the Buddha most

Ananda was foremost in hearing the teachings of Buddha.

He listened to Buddha teachings the most among the
others.
He and Anuradha were the cousin of Lord Buddha and
became the disciple of Lord Buddha at the same time.
The term Ananda literally means great delight.
He took care of Lord Buddha for 25 years until the
departure of Lord Buddha.