Bhaggava

1. Bhaggava. A teacher to whom the Buddha went after leaving Rājagaha, and before seeking Alāra and Uddaka. ThigA., p. 2.

2. Bhaggava. Father of Angulimāla and chaplain of the king of Kosala. Bhaggava was a brahmin. Thag.A.ii.57.

3. Bhaggava. A potter in Rājagaha in whose dwelling the Buddha met and conversed with Pukkusāti (M.iii.237).

Bhaggava seems to have been a generic name for all potters, perhaps a special form of address used towards members of the kumbhakāra "caste." Thus we find in the books several instances of potters being addressed as "Bhaggava". E.g., DhA.i.33; J.ii.80, iii.382. At J.111.382 the potter's wife is addressed as "Bhaggavī."

In the Samyutta Nikāya (S.i.36, 60) the Buddha addresses Ghatīkāra Brahmā as "Bhaggava"; he had been a potter of Vehalinga in his previous birth and the name "Ghatīkāra" itself means "jar maker." The Commentaries give no explanation of the word; perhaps the potters claimed their descent from Bhrgu.

Bhaggava is sometimes given as an example of a gotta. E.g., Sp.i.160 (with Gotama).

See also Bhaggavagotta.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

Bhaggava [cp. Sk. *bhārgava, a der. fr. bhṛgu, & bhargaḥ, of same root as Lat. fulgur lightning; Gr. flo/c light; Ger. blitzen, blank; Ags. blanca white horse, all of the idea of "shining, bright, radiant." -- How the meaning "potter" is connected with this meaning, is still a problem, perhaps we have to take the word merely as an Epithet at the one passage where it occurs, which happens to be in the Kumbhakāra -- jātaka, v. 6, 7. i. e. the "Jātaka of the potter"] potter (?) J iii.381, 382, in voc.bhaggava (m.) & bhaggavī (f.). The terms are not expld in C., evidently because somewhat obscure. According to Kern, Toev. s. v. the Sk. form in this meaning occurs at MBh. i.190, 47; Saddhp. 191 sq., MVastu iii.347.

Pali-English Dictionary, TW Rhys Davids, William Stede,