He was born in Kapilavatthu and of the same Sakyan lineage as his cousin Gotama, the
Buddha. His parents were King
Amitodana and Queen Gotami.
His noble virtues were
as follows:
He served the Buddha
as an assistant and a helper.
He served the Buddha
for forty years as the Dhamma reciter in accordance with the permission given
by the Buddha Himself to preserve His original teaching.
This correct memorization
and faithful recitation of the Buddha Dhamma was done by the Venerable
Ashin Ananda at the First
Buddhist Council of 500 Arahats. As the only permanent personal assistant to
the Buddha, he served Him by washing the Buddha’s towel, offering hot and cold
water and massaging His feet and hands. He daily cleaned or swept the Jetavana
monastery compound after bathing
the Buddha in pure water. He always sat near the Buddha to hear every word of
the Buddha clearly.
The Buddha gave him the title
of honour: One who surpasses all in the matter of being knowledgeable, of being able to retain the Buddha’s
teaching in memory for a long time, of being able to interpret the Dhamma
correctly, of being able to learn, recite and con the Buddha’s teaching and of
looking after the Buddha.
Source : By Ye' Thu Aung
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