Suhemanta Thera
Suhemanta Thera:He belonged to a rich brahmin family of a border kingdom.One day he heard the Buddha preach in the Deer Park in Sankassa,and,after joining the Order,became a reciter of the Tipitaka,attaining arahantship in due course.He then became a teacher and counsellor of the monks,instructing them and solving their difficulties.
In the time of Tissa,Buddha he was a forester,and,seeing the Buddha at the foot of a tree,offered him punnāga-flowers.Ninety-one kappas ago he was a king,named Tamonuda (Thag.vs.106; ThagA.i.212f).He is evidently identical with Punnāgapupphiya of the Apadāna.Ap.i.180.