Poṭṭhapāda
1. Poṭṭhapāda.– A wanderer (paribbājaka). A discussion between him and the Buddha on trance and on the soul, which took place in Mallikārāma in Sāvatthi, is reported in the Poṭṭhapāda Sutta. Poṭṭhapāda, accepting the Buddha’s views, was jeered at by his companions for doing so. Two or three days later he again visited the Buddha with Citta Hatthisāriputta (q.v.), when the Buddha continued the earlier discussion on personality and the soul. At the end of the discourse Poṭṭhapāda became the Buddha’s follower (D.i.178 ff). Poṭṭhapāda is identified with Pukkusa of the Umaṅga Jātaka. J.vi.478.
2. Poṭṭhapāda.– The Bodhisatta born as a parrot. For his story see the Rādha Jātaka (1). J.i.495 f.
3. Poṭṭhapāda.– A parrot, younger brother of Rādha, the Bodhisatta. Poṭṭhapāda is identified with Ānanda. For his story see the Rādha Jātaka (2). J.ii.132 ff.
4. Poṭṭhapāda.– A parrot born as the younger brother of the Bodhisatta and identified with Ānanda. For their story see Kāḷabāhu Jātaka. J.iii.97 ff; see also J.iv.129.
5. Poṭṭhapāda.– In the past he was born as Sunetta, son of King Kitava, and because he insulted a Pacceka Buddha he was reborn in Avīci. Later he was born in a family of fishermen near Kuṇḍinagara, but, remembering his past lives, he refused to take part in any fishing. His parents therefore cast him out, but Ānanda, finding him starving, gave him food, and, at the Buddha’s suggestion, ordained him. He soon became an Arahant and dwelt with twelve others in Sānavāsipabbata. Poṭṭhapāda’s kinsmen became hungry ghosts (peta), and his parents sent to him a brother, of whom Poṭṭhapāda was specially fond, to plead for his intervention. He therefore begged alms, and offered them to his colleagues in the name of his kinsmen, who thus regained happiness. Pv.iii.2; PvA.177 ff.