Mahakasyapa

Maha-kasyapa is the name of one of the most renowned disciples of the Buddha Saikyanvni (q.v.). He arranged metaphysically the portion of the sacred writings of the Buddhists called Abhidharma; and tradition ascribes to him also the origin of the Sthavira division of the Vaibhashika school of Buddhistic philosophy. Many legends are connected with his life. See E. Burnouf, Introduction a l'Histoire du Buddhisme Indien (Paris, 1844), and his posthumous work, Le Lotus de la Bonne Loi (Paris, 1852).