Casyapa

Casyapa

in Hind legend, was a disciple of Buddha, who presided at the first council of the Buddhists, after the death of Buddha at Rajagriha; five hundred priests assembled and made the first edition of the Buddhistic books. Casyapa was the author of the book called Abhidharma (Metaphysics). . He became the principal of one of the four classes of the Buddhist schools, named Vabhachica. He was a Brahmin converted to the faith of Buddha. His disciples were of five or six subdivisions, and were distinguished by the name of "the great community." See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. G n rale, s.v.