Of Sri Lanka. Famous for his knowledge of the Vinaya. He was a pupil of Upatissa and colleague of Mahāsumma (Sp.i.263).

Mahāpaduma’s opinions are often quoted in the Samantapāsādikā. Sp.i. 184, 283; ii.368, 471; iii.536, 538, 588, 596, 609, 644, 651, 683, 715; iv.819, 827, etc.

Once, when Vasabha’s queen was ill, a woman of the court was sent to Mahāpaduma for a remedy, he being evidently skilled in medicine. The Thera would not prescribe anything, but explained to his fellow monks what should be done in the case of such an illness. The remedy was applied in the case of the queen and she recovered. Later, she visited the Thera, and offered him three robes and a medicine chest containing three hundred kahāpaṇas; this she placed at his feet, requesting that he should offer flowers in her name. The elder accepted the gift and spent the money on offerings of flowers. Sp.ii.471.