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{{Short description|A King's guide}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| image = File:พระอุปคุต วัดบวรนิเวศวิหาร Upagutta or Upagupta At Wat Bowon Niwet - CROPPED.png
| caption = Common representation of Upagupta, this one enshrined at the Wihan Phra Upakhut (Upagutta Shrine), [[Wat Bowonniwet]], [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]
| religion = [[Buddhism]]
}}
'''Upagupta''' (c. 3rd century BCE) was a [[Buddhist]] monk, widely venerated in several Buddhist traditions across Asia. According to stories in the [[Sanskrit]] text [[Ashokavadana]], he served as the spiritual teacher of the [[Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]].<ref name="John1989">{{cite book | author=John S. Strong | author-link = John S. Strong | title=The Legend of King Aśoka: A Study and Translation of the Aśokāvadāna | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kp9uaQTQ8h8C&pg=PA232 | access-date=30 October 2012 | year=1989 | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. | isbn=978-81-208-0616-0 }}</ref>{{rp|16}}

In the [[Sarvāstivādin]] tradition, Upagupta is considered the fifth patriarch after [[Mahākāśyapa]], [[Ānanda]], Madhyāntika, and Śāṇakavāsin. In [[Chan Buddhism|Chan]]/[[Zen]] Buddhism, he is regarded as the fourth patriarch. His teacher was [[Śāṇavāsa]], a direct disciple of Ānanda, who was the Buddha's personal attendant.

Because his name is absent from Theravāda literature, it is generally assumed that Upagupta belonged to the Sarvāstivādin school. Despite this, his legacy has extended across diverse traditions, and in Southeast Asia, particularly in [[Myanmar]], [[Cambodia]], [[Thailand]], [[Laos]], and [[Bangladesh]], he is an important cult figure.

== Veneration in Southeast Asia ==

In [[Myanmar]], Upagupta is venerated under the name '''[[Shin Upagutta]]''' ({{langx|my|ရှင်ဥပဂုတ္တ}}), believed to be an [[arhat|arahant]] who protects devotees from misfortune, especially natural disasters such as floods and storms. He is a prominent figure in Burmese folk Buddhism and is associated with miraculous legends. In Cambodia, he is known as '''Preah Uppakut''', and in Laos and Northern Thailand, he is called '''Upakhut''' (อุปคุต).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/25/upakhut-saint-and-spirit/|title=Upakhut: saint and spirit|last=Walker|first=Andrew|date=25 April 2007|work=New Mandala|access-date=18 March 2012|archive-date=6 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306004406/http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/04/25/upakhut-saint-and-spirit/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In Myanmar, Shin Upagutta is believed to reside in a floating brass palace in the southern ocean. He is invoked through Pali incantations to avert disasters, and many believe his invisible presence can prevent storms and evil spirits. He is closely associated with the nāga (mythical serpent beings) and is often portrayed seated cross-legged, holding a thabeik (alms bowl).

His veneration includes major festivals, such as one in [[Shwegyin (town)|Shwegyin]] near [[Bago, Myanmar|Bago]] during the month of Thadingyut, and another in [[Yangon]]’s Chinatown called ''Ye Hmyaw Pwe'' (ရေမျှောပွဲ), which involves processions and ceremonial offerings cast into the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usamyanmar.net/Buddha/Article/ShinUpagoteofMyanmar.pdf|title=Moggaliputta Tissa Maha Thera|last=Paw|first=Maung|access-date=18 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://mmtimes.com/2011/news/596/photo.html|title=Buddhist festival marked in Yangon|author=Kaung Htet|date=10 October 2011|work=Myanmar Times|access-date=18 March 2012}}</ref>

While some traditions identify Shin Upagutta with Upagupta or even with [[Moggaliputta-Tissa]], he is not mentioned in the [[Pali Canon]]. His story appears primarily in later texts, Burmese chronicles like the [[Maha Yazawin]], and regional oral traditions.<ref>{{cite book |title=Traditions of Buddhist Practice in Burma |last=Houtman |first=Gustaaf |year=1990 |publisher=ILCAA |page=278 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuninst.net/Myanmar/Folk-elements/ch09-ari/ch09-ari.htm#Shin-Upagote|title=Shin Upagote|author=Maung Htin Aung|date=2 October 2008|work=Folk Elements in Burmese Buddhism|access-date=18 March 2012|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703230358/http://www.tuninst.net/Myanmar/Folk-elements/ch09-ari/ch09-ari.htm#Shin-Upagote|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Legends ==

In the Lokapannatti, Upagupta is sent by Ashoka to tame Mara during an enshrinement festival. Afterward, he requests that Mara take the form (''[[rupakaya]]'') of the Buddha so that the people may see what the Buddha truly looked like.<ref name="Strong">{{cite book | title =Relics of the Buddha | author =John S. Strong | year =2007 | page =145 | publisher =Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | isbn =9788120831391 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=xqAB6PKyP98C&q=relics+of+the+buddha+ashoka+mechanical&pg=PA133}}</ref>

== In Literature ==

[[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s poem Abhisar, from the collection Katha, retells a story of Upagupta inspired by Buddhist legends. In this poem, a courtesan named Vasavdatta encounters the monk in Mathura and invites him to her home. He declines, saying the time is not right. Months later, he finds her disfigured and cast out by society. He then cares for her, saying the time for their meeting has now come.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rabindranath Tagore |url=http://tagoreweb.in/render/ShowContent.aspx?ct=Verses&bi=14576005-A4A0-4025-751D-B2EAEB60FB63&ti=14576005-A4A0-44B5-B51D-B2EAEB60FB63 |title=অভিসার |access-date=13 April 2014 |archive-date=22 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422062153/http://tagoreweb.in/render/ShowContent.aspx?ct=Verses&bi=14576005-A4A0-4025-751D-B2EAEB60FB63&ti=14576005-A4A0-44B5-B51D-B2EAEB60FB63 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Tagore adapted this tale from the [[Bodhisattvāvadānakalpalatā]], a Sanskrit text by 11th-century Kashmiri poet [[Kshemendra]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kshemendra (translator: Nobin Chandra Das)|year=1895| location=Calcutta| title=Bodhisattvāvadānakalpalatā |trans-title=Legends and Miracles of Buddha Sakya Sinha| url=https://archive.org/stream/legendsmiracleso01ksem#page/n3/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=বিজন গোলদার |title=রবীন্দ্র মনন ও সাহিত্যে বৌদ্ধ চেতনা |date=5 December 2018 |url=http://www.thedailysangbad.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMDdfMThfMTNfMV80MV8xXzEzNzMxNA==}}</ref>

In the Japanese Zen text [[Denkoroku|Transmission of Light]], Upagupta is described as a great teacher. According to the account, "Whenever anyone attained realization, Upagupta would cast a [[talisman]] four fingers in breadth into a cave. The cave was eighteen [[cubit]]s by twelve, and it was filled with talismans – that is how many people attained enlightenment."<ref>{{cite book |last=Cleary |first=Thomas |date=2002 |title=Translation of Transmission of Light | pages=17 |publisher=Shambhala | isbn=978-1570629495}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Shin Upagutta]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JASB/waddell.htm Upagupta, the Fourth Buddhist Patriarch, and High priest of Acoka]
* [https://www.academia.edu/15194634/Abhis%C4%81r_Rabindranath_Tagore_s_Poetic_Adaptation_of_an_Episode_from_Upagupta_Legend Abhisār – Rabindranath Rabindranath Tagore's Poetic Adaptation of an Episode from Upagupta Legend: An Example of Buddhist Narratives in the Time of Bengal Renaissance]

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| title = [[Lineage (Buddhism)|Lineage of Buddhist patriarchs]]<br><small>(According to the [[Zen]] schools of China and Japan)</small>
| before = [[Shanavasa]]
| after = [[Dhṛṭaka]]
| years =
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[[Category:Indian Buddhist monks]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC monks]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Indian monks]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Buddhist monks]]
[[Category:People from the Maurya Empire]]

Upagupta - Revision history

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