Mahākāśyapa

Mahakashyapa ( Sanskrit: महाकश्यप, Mahakasyapa; Pali Mahā Kassapa, literally "the great Kassapa " ), born as Pipphali Kassapa, was one of the most important disciples of the Buddha. After Buddha's death, he led the first Buddhist Council. He is mentioned as the first Indian patriarch of Zen Buddhism.

Life

Mahakashyapa was born in the northeastern Indian kingdom of Magadha, the son of Brahmin parents. At the insistence of his parents he married Bhadda Kapilani, although the two wanted to remain unmarried. After his parents died, were Mahakashyapa and Bhadda Kapilani as a monk and nun Buddha's disciple.