Mahāsena

1. Mahāsena. A deva living in Ketumatī Palace to the east of Vejayanta. At the request of Sakka and of members of the Order, led by Assagutta, he was born in the world of men as Nāgasena. Mil. 6f.

2. Mahāsena. A brahmin, friend of Vanganta, father of Sāriputta. He was poor, and, out of compassion for him, Sāriputta came to his house for alms. Twice Mahāsena hid himself, having nothing to give, but, one day, receiving a bowl of rice porridge and a small piece of cloth, he thought of Sāriputta. The Elder had just risen from a trance, and, becoming aware of Mahāsena's desire, he visited him, and was given the porridge and the piece of cloth with a prayer from Mahāsena, "May I realize the Truth you have seen." After death, Mahāsena was born as the novice and was called Vanavāsī Tissa. DhA.ii.84.

3. Mahāsena. Younger son of King Gothābhaya. He became king of Ceylon (334-361 A.C.), and under the advice of his teacher Sanghamitta and his minister Sona, he despoiled Mahāvihāra and enriched Abhayagiri. He issued a decree that no one should give alms to the monks of Mahāvihāra. But, later, his friend and minister, Meghavannābhaya, convinced him of his error, and he became a supporter of Mahāvihāra. Soon after, however, he fell under the influence of a monk, named Tissa, and built Jetavanaviharā in the precincts of Mahāvihāra, despite the protests of the monks. Tissa was later expelled from the Order. The king built the Manihīra, Gokanna, Erakāvilla, Kalandagāma, Migagāma, Gangāsenakapabbata, Dhātusenapabbata, Kokavāta, Rūpārāma, and Hulapitthi vihāras and two nunneries   Uttara and Abhaya. He also built sixteen tanks and a great canal called Pabbatanta. (Dpv.xxii.66 76; Mhv.xxxvii.1ff).

Sirimeghavanna was the son of Mahāsena. Cv.xxxvii.53.

4. Mahāsena. A king of India who ruled in Pātaliputta. He fed one thousand monks daily; but, not satisfied with that, he went to Uttara Madhurā, where he labored in disguise, giving alms with the wages so earned. Cv.xcii.23ff.

5. Mahāsena.A king of Pātaliputta. He and his sister worked with their own hands and gave alms to 500 monks from Piyangudīpa, among whom was Mahāsīva (8). The monk wished that they should see their alms being eaten by the monks in Piyangudīpa. Ras.i.72f.

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