This article discusses the opinion attributed to the Andhakas in the Kathāvatthuppakara?aa??hakathā, a fifth century commentary on the Kathāvatthu by Buddhagho?a, that the wisdom powers (jñānabala) of the Buddha are common to the Disciples (?rāvaka). We will, more precisely, address this Andhaka opinion in its relevance for the issue of the rise of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It will be shown that the claim that the Disciples share the wisdom powers (jñānabala) with the Tathāgata, is part of a gradual process of attributing specific qualities, the so-called ‘Unique Dharmas of a Buddha’ (buddhāve?ikadharma), to the Buddha only, towards attributing such qualities also to the ?rāvakas; a process that is in line with the gradual development of Mahāyāna Buddhism.
