(Sanskrit; Pali: Puá¹Âá¹Âa MantÃÂnëputta, ), also simply known as Pà «rá¹Âa (Sanskrit; Pali: Puá¹Âá¹Âa), was an arhat and one of the ten principal disciples of Gautama Buddha, foremost in preaching the dharma.
Puá¹Âá¹Âa MantÃÂnëputta was born in Donavatthu, near Kapilavatthu, in a noble family. His mother was MantÃÂnë (or MaitrÃÂyanë), sister of Ven. Añña Koá¹Âá¸Âañña, who became Ven. Puá¹Âá¹Âa's teacher. Ven. ÃÂnanda, after his first rain retreat, mentions him as a great influence in the ÃÂnandasuttaá¹Â. He says that thanks to him, he was able to become a sotÃÂpanna.
Ven. SÃÂriputta hears about Ven. Puá¹Âá¹Âa for the first time through a conversation between the TathÃÂgata and a group of shakyans who praised him. Then Ven. SÃÂriputta has the chance to meet Ven. Puá¹Âá¹Âa at SÃÂvatthë, where he asks Ven. Puá¹Âá¹Âa about the dharma without revealing his identity. As part of his answer, Ven. Puá¹Âá¹Âa uses the analogy of the relay chariots in the Rathavënitasuttaá¹Â. Then both reveal their names. Ven. Puá¹Âá¹Âa says he is called Puá¹Âá¹Âa, but is known as MantÃÂniputta by his companions in the holy life, and Ven. SÃÂriputta says his name is Upatissa, but that he's known by his companions in the holy life as SÃÂriputta. They both praise one another.