Mahinda (Buddhist monk)
Mahinda | |
|---|---|
මිහිඳු මහ රහතන් වහන්සේ | |
An Arhat Mahinda Statue at Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery, Sri Lanka | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Prince Mahinda Maurya (Pali) 285 BC |
| Died | 205 BC (aged c. 79 – 80) Anuradhapura Kingdom, (Present day Sri Lanka) |
| Cause of death | Senescence |
| Resting place | Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Parent(s) | Ashoka (father) Devi (mother) |
| Education | Buddhist religion |
| Known for | Establishing Theravāda Buddhism in Sri Lanka |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Sect | Theravada |
Mahinda (Sinhala: මිහිඳු මහරහතන් වහන්සේ) (285 BCE – 205 BCE) was an Indian Buddhist monk depicted in Buddhist sources as bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka. He was a Mauryan prince and the first-born son of Emperor Ashoka from his first wife Queen Devi, and the older brother of Princess Sanghamitra.
Mahinda was sent as a Buddhist missionary to the Anuradhapura Kingdom in Sri Lanka. Mahinda attained arhatship and resided at Mihintale. He played an important role in proliferating Buddhism throughout the Indian subcontinent.