Casyapa

Casyapa in Hindû legend, was a disciple of Buddha, who presided at the first council of the Buddhists, after the death of Buddha at Rajagriha; five hundred priests assembled and made the first edition of the Buddhistic books. Casyapa was the author of the book called Abhidharma (Metaphysics). . He became the principal of one of the four classes of the Buddhist schools, named Vabhachica. He was a Brahmin converted to the faith of Buddha. His disciples were of five or six subdivisions, and were distinguished by the name of "the great community." See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Générale, s.v.