Mahāsena
1. Mahāsena.– A deva living in Ketumatī Palace to the east of Vejayanta. At the request of Sakka and of members of the Order, led by Assagutta, he was born in the world of men as Nāgasena. Mil. 6 f.
2. Mahāsena.– A brahmin, friend of Vaṅganta, father of Sāriputta. He was poor, and, out of compassion for him, Sāriputta came to his house for alms. Twice Mahāsena hid himself, having nothing to give, but, one day, receiving a bowl of rice porridge and a small piece of cloth, he thought of Sāriputta. The elder had just risen from a trance, and, becoming aware of Mahāsena’s desire, he visited him, and was given the porridge and the piece of cloth with a prayer from Mahāsena, “May I realise the Truth you have seen.” After death, Mahāsena was born as the novice and was called Vanavāsī Tissa. DhA.ii.84.
3. Mahāsena.– Younger son of King Goṭhakābhaya. He became king of Sri Lanka (334‑361 A.C.), and under the advice of his teacher Saṅghamitta and his minister Soṇa, he despoiled Mahāvihāra and enriched Abhayagiri. He issued a decree that no one should give alms to the monks of Mahāvihāra. However, later, his friend and minister, Meghavaṇṇābhaya, convinced him of his error, and he became a supporter of Mahāvihāra. Soon after, however, he fell under the influence of a monk, named Tissa, and built Jetavana-
Sirimeghavaṇṇa was the son of Mahāsena. Cv.xxxvii.53.
4. Mahāsena.– A king of India who ruled in Pāṭaliputta. He fed one thousand monks daily; but, not satisfied with that, he went to Uttaramadhurā, where he laboured in disguise, giving alms with the wages so earned. Cv.xcii.23 ff.
5. Mahāsena.– A king of Pāṭaliputta. He and his sister worked with their own hands and gave alms to 500 monks from Piyaṅgudīpa, among whom was Mahāsīva (8). The monk wished that they should see their alms being eaten by the monks in Piyaṅgudīpa. Ras.i.72 f.