A

B

C

D

E

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

Y

?

Candagutta

1. Candagutta.– King of Jambudīpa. He belonged to the Moriya dynasty and gained the throne through the scheming of Cānakka, who slew the rightful king Dhanānanda and his heir Pabbata.¹ Candagutta reigned twenty-four years and was succeeded by his son Bindusāra. His grandson was Asoka (Mhv.v.16 ff). Candagutta’s senior contemporary in Sri Lanka was Paṇḍukābhaya, who died in the fourteenth year of Candagutta’s reign.² The Milindapañha ³ mentions a soldier Bhaddasāla, in the service of the Nanda royal family, who waged war against Candagutta. In this war there were eighty “Corpse Dances” in which dead bodies danced. The Theragāthā Commentary (i., p.440) states that the father of the Thera Tekicchakāri incurred the displeasure of Candagutta, who, at the instigation of Cāṇakka, cast him into prison.

¹ The Mahāvaṃsaṭīkā gives details of how Cāṇakka contrived to make Candagutta king (pp.181 ff).

² Dpv.vi.15; Sp.i.72; see also Dpv.v.69, 73, 81; both the Dpv. and the Sp. talk of Pakuṇḍakābhaya (sic)

³ p.292; see also Kathāsaritsāgara i.30.

2. Candagutta Thera.– A co-resident (saddhivihārika) of Mahā-Kassapa Thera. His colleague was Suriyagutta. SA.iii.125.

3. Candagutta.– One of the eight warriors sent by Asoka to accompany the Bodhi-tree to Sri Lanka. He took a prominent part in the celebrations when the Tree left Pāṭaliputta (Mbv.152), and later, on his arrival in Sri Lanka, was appointed by Devānampiyatissa to beat the golden drum at the Bodhi-tree ceremonies. He was given the office of Malayarāja and the Virabāhujanapada was bestowed on him for his maintenance (Mbv.165).

4. Candagutta.– An Arahant Thera who came from Vanavāsa with 80,000 others for the foundation of the Mahā Thūpa in Anurādhapura. Mhv.xxix.42; Dpv.xix.8.