According to Buddhist tradition, Devadatta was the relative who challenged the Buddha’s leadership of the sangha.
Devadatta is described in Buddhist texts as a cousin of the Buddha and a monk in the early community. He initially became an important disciple but later sought greater authority. Traditional accounts portray him as proposing stricter rules and attempting to divide the monastic community.
Some stories also attribute violent plots against the Buddha to Devadatta, including attempts involving a rock and a rampaging elephant. These episodes are part of Buddhist literary tradition and helped make Devadatta a lasting example of ambition, rivalry, and schism.
Devadatta should not be confused with Ananda, the Buddha’s attendant, or Rahula, the Buddha’s son. Accounts of Devadatta differ among Buddhist texts and later traditions, so the precise historical details are difficult to establish independently.