Arahant Maliyadeva Thera

[Ontheway]

Browsed internet about post Buddha's era Arahant disciples, encounter this name Phra Malai in Thai Theravada. Legends said that this Phra Malai Arahant fully developed his Iddhipadas, wielding great spiritual powers, who able to visit Hell realms and Heaven realms, informing the living people about these realms.

In Thailand, it seems Phra Malai Arahant received great deal of veneration, almost equal to the popularity of other Arahant such as Maha Kaccana Thera and Sivali Thera (both Arahant during Buddha's era.)

Surprisingly, Phra Malai Arahant's origin was not from Thailand. Instead, according to Thai Theravada scriptures "Phra Malai Kham Luang", it was Sri Lanka. The Arahant was named "Maliyadeva Thera" and commonly recognised by Thai traditional Theravada system as the last well known Arahant.

[Ontheway]

A gold coloured statue representing Arahant Maliyadeva Thera or Phra Malai.

Interestingly, according to this website: http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_n ... angana.htm

Mutiyangana:
A cetiya in Ceylon, erected, according to tradition, by Devānampiyatissa, on a spot consecrated by the Buddha on his third visit to Ceylon (Sp.i.89). It was restored by Jetthatissa. It is, perhaps, the monastery attached to this cetiya that is mentioned in the Majjhima Commentary (MA.ii.1024) as Mutingana. Maliyadeva Thera preached there the Cha Cakka Sutta and sixty monks became arahants.

The Cha cakka sutta:
https://suttacentral.net/mn148/en/bodhi