Tathāgata
PersonAn epithet the Buddha used of himself, on which the commentaries offer eight or more explanations without settled agreement, noting the term predates Buddhism and can apply to any Arahant, not only a Buddha.
An epithet of the Buddha, used by the Buddha in referring to himself.
The Commentaries (DA.i.59-67; AA.i.58-63; MA.39-43; UdA.128 ff, etc.) give eight (sometimes expanded to sixteen) explanations of the word, which shows that there was probably no fixed tradition on the point.
The explanations indicate that the name can be used for any Arahant, and not necessarily only for a Buddha.
The term was evidently pre-Buddhistic, though it has not yet been found in any pre-Buddhistic work.
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