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was highly intelligent and learned and was a great commentator. The Buddha depended on him in various matters. On one occasion, the Buddha had observed, 'Sariputta ! In whichever direction you go, you emit the same sort of light as the Buddha does". (4).
The Tripitakas give an illustration of Sariputta's intellect. When the Buddha's recalcitrant disciple Der'adatta broke away from the order with 500 Vajji monks, it was mainly the wit of Sariputta that could reclaim these 500 from the clutches of the rebel (5).
Once the Buddha said to Ananda, "How do you like Sāriputta"?
Ananda said in reply,
"Bhante! Who will not like the long-lived Sariputta unless he is a fool, a wicked person, or one with an unbalanced mind? The long-lived Sariputta has a great knowledge and a great wisdom. His wisdom is as delightful as it is sharp" (6).
At Sāriputta's death, the Buddha observed,
"A vast branch of Kalpa-tree of Religion is gone".
The Buddha nick-named him as the spiritual cominander.
4. Moggaliana - Moggallana, like Sariputta, was among the foremost disciples of the Buddha. He was a great monk and was considered to be endowed with the greatest power (7). As in the Jaina tradition we have many examples of the occult powers (labdhi) of Gautama, so in the Buddhist tradition, we have many stories about the occult powers (radhi) of Moggallana.
With Sāriputta, Moggallāna too had a hand in the reclamation of the 500 Vajji monks for the Buddha's order from the clutches of rebel Devadatta (8).
Visakha, a female devotee of the Buddha had decided to erect an abode (vihara) for the Buddha and his monks on
