Bhaggava untranslated

Bhaggava 01. A teacher to whom the Buddha went after leaving Rājagaha, and before seeking Āḷāra and Uddaka. Thīg­a., p. 2.

Bhaggava 02. Father of Aṅgulimāla and chaplain of the king of Kosala. Bhaggava was a Brahmin. Thag.A.ii.57.

Bhaggava 03. A potter in Rājagaha in whose dwelling the Buddha met and conversed with Pukkusāti (MN.iii.237).

Bhaggava seems to have been a generic name for all potters, perhaps a special form of address used towards members of the kumbhakāra “caste.” Thus we find in the books several instances of potters being addressed as “Bhaggava”, e.g., Dhp­a.i.33; Ja.ii.80, iii.382. At Ja.111.382 the potter’s wife is addressed as “Bhaggavī.”

In the Saṁyuttanikāya (SN.i.36, 60) the Buddha addresses Ghaṭīkāra Brahma as “Bhaggava”; he had been a potter of Vehaliṅga in his previous birth and the name “Ghaṭīkāra” itself means “jar maker.” The Commentaries give no explanation of the word; perhaps the potters claimed their descent from Bhṛgu.

Bhaggava is sometimes given as an example of a gotta, e.g., Vin-a.i.160 (with Gotama).

See also Bhaggavagotta.