아난다 (阿難陀)의 약칭. 부처님 십대제자 (十大弟子)의 하나로 다문제일 (多聞第一)로 부처님을 항상 가까이에서 모셨음. 증일아함경 (增一阿含經)에 다음과 같이 아난에 대해 적고 있다: ‘나의 성문 (聲聞) 가운데 제일 비구 (比丘)는 때를 알고 사물에 밝으며, 모든 것에 의심이 없고 기억한 바를 잊지 아니하며, 다문 (多聞)하고 잘 참고 윗사람을 받드는 아난이다’

Ananda, interpreted as "Joy": One of Buddha's ten major disciples known as the foremost in hearing the Buddha's teachings, or the foremost of the learned. He was also the Lord's personal attendant. A quote from Numerical Collection of Agama, "The foremost among my disciples is Ananda (the Lord says), who knows when to act, who has clear knowledge in things, who is without any doubt, who never forgets the things he learned, who is never negligent in listening to the Dharma, and who is always obedient to elders."