Mahakashyapa and Bhaddā Kāpilānī were husband and wife, but on their wedding night they both felt the pull of renunciation and agreed to leave the household life together, each seeking the Buddha independently and each attaining arahatship.
The Buddha designated ten monks as his principal disciples, each declared foremost in a specific quality — Sariputta in wisdom, Moggallana in supernatural powers, Mahakashyapa in ascetic practice, Ananda in learning, Anuruddha in divine eye, Subhuti in dwelling without conflict, Purna in preaching, Maha Katyayana in detailed exposition, Upali in monastic discipline, and Rahula in desire for training.
Gautama Buddha held up a white flower before the silent assembly on Vulture Peak, and only Mahakashyapa smiled — in that wordless exchange, Gautama Buddha transmitted his deepest teaching outside the scriptures and named Mahakashyapa foremost in ascetic practice and heir to the dharma.
Mahakashyapa was travelling when Parinirvana occurred and arrived at Kushinagar days later, whereupon the funeral pyre refused to light until he paid his respects — he then led the cremation rites and convened the First Council to preserve the teachings.
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