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Kaccāyana

1. Kaccāyana Thera.– Author of the Kaccāyana-vyākaraṇa, the oldest of the Pāḷi grammars extant. Orthodox tradition identifies him with Mahā-Kaccāna. He was probably a South Indian and belonged to the Avanti school founded by Mahā-Kaccāna (P.L.C.179 ff; Gv.66; Svd.1233 f). He was, perhaps, also the author of the Nettippakaraṇa. Kaccāyana probably belongs to the fifth or sixth century A.D.

The Gandhavaṃsa (p.59) ascribes to Kaccāyana the authorship of the Kaccāyanagandha, Mahāniruttigandha, Cūḷaniruttigandha, Peṭakopadesagandha, Nettigandha and Vaṇṇanītigandha.

2. Kaccāyana Thera.– An Arahant. He was a disciple of Padumuttara Buddha, and was declared by him to be chief among those who could expound in detail what the Buddha stated in brief. It was this declaration made in the presence of Mahā-Kaccāna, which made the latter, in that birth an ascetic in Himavā, wish for a like proficiency for himself under a future Buddha. Ap.ii.464; ThagA.i.484.

3. Kaccāyana.– In the Vidhura Jātaka, the yakkha Puṇṇaka calls himself and is addressed as Kaccāyana (J.vi.273), Kaccāna (J.vi.283, 286, 301, 327) and Kātiyāna (J.vi.299, 306, 308). The scholiast seems to offer no explanation.

4. Kaccāyana.– See also Kaccāna.