“Voice-hearers” (Sanskrit, shravaka) refers to those monastic disciples who heard the voice of the Buddha in person. From the standpoint of Mahayana Buddhism, the voice-hearers are Hinayana disciples who listened and followed the teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. … Traditionally ten major disciples are listed. They are representative of the different qualities that were valued by Hinayana Buddhism:
- Shariputra, foremost in wisdom
- Mahakashyapa, foremost in ascetic practices
- Ananda, foremost in hearing the sutras
- Subhuti, foremost in understanding emptiness
- Purna, foremost in expounding the Dharma
- Maudgalyayana, foremost in supernatural powers
- Katyayana, foremost in explaining the Dharma
- Aniruddha, foremost in clairvoyance (the divine eye)
- Upali, foremost in observing the precepts
- Rahula, foremost in inconspicuous practice