Aggāḷave CetiyeAggālavacetiya

The chief shrine at Āḷavī, originally a pagan place of worship, but later converted into a Buddhist vihāra. The Buddha stopped here on many occasions during his wander …

A banyan tree in Uruvelā, on the banks of the Nerañjara, near the Bodhi tree. A week after the Enlightenment the Buddha went there and spent a week cross-legged at the foot of the tree. There he met …

…his time to explaining the Pātimokkha rules to the monks. At the time of the Second Council he was a monk of ten years’ standing and was…

AmbāṭakavanaAmbālavana

A grove at Macchikāsaṇḍa, belonging to Cittagahapati. It became the residence of large numbers of monks, and discussions often took place there between Cittagahapati and the re …

A village in the Māgadha country, three gāvuta from Rājagaha. Between it and Rājagaha is the river Sappinī, which rises in the Gijjhakūṭa. Vin.i.109 Once the Buddha went from Benares to Andhakavinda w …

…while staying at Anupiya and it was then that he preached the Pātika Sutta. DN.iii.1ff.

???2town

The followers of Assaji and Punabbasu. They lived in Kīṭāgiri, between Sāvatthī and Ālavi, and were guilty of various evil practices. They used to grow flowers, make wreaths and garlands, and send the …

AḷakaMūḷaka

A country on the banks of the Godhāvarī River. It was at a spot between the territories of the Aḷaka and the Assaka kings that Bāvarī lived. Snp.977 To the north of Alaka was Patiṭṭhāna. …

…visited him, and their conversation is recorded in the Pātika Sutta. DN.iii.1ff.

BimbisāraSeniya

King of Māgadha and patron of the Buddha.

According to the Pabbajā Sutta Snp.405ff. the first meeting between the Buddha and Bimbisāra took place in Rājagaha under the Paṇḍavapabba …

The son of a brahmin woman. Having joined the Order, he dwelt in solitude and became an arahant. One day he went to Sāvatthī for alms, and, in due course, arrived at his mother’s house. She was in the …

A brahmin ascetic who went from Sāvatthī to Dakkhiṇāpatha and lived on the banks of the Godhāvarī in a hermitage which lay half in the territory of Assaka and half in that of Alaka.

He received the r …

CetiyaCetiCetīCedi

One of the sixteen Great Nations, AN.i.213 probably identical with Cedi of the older documents. The people of Ceti settled near the Yamunā, to the east, in the neighbourhood of and …

…monks to recite the pātimokkha under a learned monk if the leader of their own company should be inefficient. Vin.i.116f.

near…

A king of long ago. His son was Reṇu and his chief stewards were firstly Govinda and later Jotipāla. DN.ii.230f.

GijjhakūṭaVulture’s Peak

One of the five hills encircling Rājagaha. It was evidently a favourite resort of those who followed the religious life.

The Buddha seems to have been attracted by its solit …

A monk whose Theragāthā verse speaks of his delight in meditating while the rain falls on his little hut. Thag.51

According to the Saṃyutta SN.i.120f. account, Godhika lived on the Kāḷasilā in Isig …

One of the places passed by Bāvarī’s disciples on their way from Bāvarī’s hermitage to see the Buddha at Rājagaha.

Between Gonaddha and their starting place lay Patitthāna, Māhissati and Ujjeni, an …

The steward or treasurer of King Disampati. He had a son, Jotipāla, who succeeded him after his death and came to be known as Mahā Govinda. DN.ii.230f.

“Govinda” was evidently a title and not a name.

Hatthaka¹

A monk. He was a Sākyan and loved holding discussions with the heretics. When he suffered defeat at their hands, he would resort to falsehood and evasion, or would ask his oppone …

A village on the road from Vesāli to Bhoganagara. It was the residence of Ugga-gahapati and is described as a village of the Vajjians.

The Buddha stayed there and was visited by Ugga. AN.iv.212 SN.i …

Inda¹

Given in the Āṭānāṭiya Sutta as the name of the ninety-one sons of Dhataraṭṭha, king of the Gandhabbas. They are represented as being of great strength and followers of the Buddha. …

Isidatta¹

A verse uttered by Isidatta, in response to the Buddha’s enquiry regarding his welfare, is recorded in the Therāgāthā. Thag.120

According to the Saṃyutta Nikāya, SN.iv.283–288 I …

Jotipāla¹

The Bodhisatta born as a brahmin of Vehaliṅga in the time of Kassapa Buddha. Ghaṭīkāra was his friend and invited Jotipāla to accompany him to the Buddha, but Jotipāla refused to …

…when Jāliya heard that Pātika could not come to hold a discussion with the Buddha at Vesāli, he went to the Tindukkhāna-paribbājakārāma…

A Buddha of a past era. His chief disciples were Vidhura and Sañjīva among monks, and Sama and Campā among nuns. His personal attendant was Buddhija. Accuta and Samaṇa, Nandā and Sunandā were his most …

A city near the Himalaya, capital of the Sākiyan republic. The administration and judicial business of the city and all other matters of importance were discussed and decided in the Santhāgārasālā. DN …

A household of Vesalī, a pious follower of the Buddha. Once when the Buddha was staying in Vesalī, a poor man, wishing to give alms to him and to the monks, asked Kirapatika for money to provide the a …

KorabyaKoravyaKorabba

Perhaps the generic name given to the king of the Kurūs. The Aṅguttara Nikāya AN.iii.369f. mentions a king Koravya who owned a large banyan tree named Suppatiṭṭha. According t …

A monk, evidently held in high esteem by his colleagues. He is mentioned as staying in Kosambī, in Ghosita Park, and as asking Ānanda certain questions, recorded in the Kāmabhū Sutta. SN.iv.165 Two ot …

KāpathikaKāpaṭika

A young brahmin, sixteen years old, well versed in the Vedas, and with his head shaven. He was “of good stock, well informed, a good speaker and a scholar of ability.” He visited th …

A hall in the Mahāvana near Vesāli. The Buddha stayed there on several occasions, and in the books are found records of various eminent persons who visited him there and of his conversations with them …

LaṭṭhivanaLatthivanaLatthivanuyyāna

A grove to the southwest of Rājagaha. In it was the Supatiṭṭha cetiya, where the Buddha stayed during his first visit to Rājagaha from Gayāsīsa, after the Enlighte …

A township in Kāsī, the residence, among others, of Citta-Gahapati. SN.iv.281

It contained the Ambāṭakavana, which Citta presented as a monastery for the monks, at the head of whom was Mahānāma.

S …

An epithet of Cittagahapati, because he lived in Macchikāslānda. AN.i.26

MahāmoggallānaMoggallānaKolita

The second of the Chief Disciples of the Buddha. He and Sāriputta went forth as disciples of Sañjaya. After some time, Sāriputta, wandering about in Rājagaha, met Assaj …

Mahāpajāpatī GotamīPajāpatī

An eminent bhikkhunī and the step-mother of the Buddha. She raised the Buddha as her own child after the death of his mother.

She is chiefly remembered as the first bhik …

Meghiya

Having joined the Order, was for some time the personal attendant of the Buddha. Once, when the Buddha was staying with him at Cālikā, Meghiya went to Jantugāma for alms, and, on his return, …

Musila

A monk. A conversation is recorded in the Saṃyutta Nikāya SN.ii.115f. between him and Savittha, which is said to have taken place in Ghositārāma in Kosambī, regarding the paṭiccasamuppāda.

One of the four chief kingdoms of India at the time of the Buddha, the others being Kosala, the kingdom of the Vaṃsas and Avanti. Māgadha formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas and had its capital at …

MāraNamuciKaṇhaAdhipatiAntakaPamattabandhuPāpimā

Generally regarded as the personification of Death, the Evil One, the Tempter. Sometimes known as the Dark One (Kaṇha). Snp.355 MN.i.377 DN.ii.262 T …

Nigaṇṭha NāṭaputtaNigaṇṭha NāthaputtaNāthaputtaNāṭaputta

Founder or reformer of the Jains. One of six eminent teachers, contemporary with the Buddha; he is described as a outsider. SN.i.66

He was le …

Nigrodhārāma¹

A grove near Kapilavatthu, where a residence was provided for the Buddha. Vin.i.82 There Mahāpajāpati Gotamī first asked permission for women to enter the Order. This was ref …

A monk whose Theragāthā verses speak of giving up desire and patiently awaiting one’s time. Thag.195–196

A park near Hatthigāma, belonging to Uggagahapati. It was there that he first met the Buddha and was converted. AN.iv.213

26.38202, 84.840543park

NāḷandāNālaNālakaNālikaUpatissagāma

Mentioned as a brahmin village in Māgadha, not far from Rājagaha. SN.iv.251 AN.v.120 AN.v.121 SN.v.161

Also mentioned as a town near Rājagaha. The Buddha is menti …

One of the kings of the devas, mentioned with Sakka, Varuṇa, Isāna, etc. MN.i.2 SN.i.219 DN.i.244 DN.ii.274

He is sometimes mentioned with Brahmā, as distinct from him. MN.i.140 MN.i.327 MN.i.329

In …

The capital of Aḷaka, the first place to be passed by Bāvarī’s disciples on their way to Sāvatthī. Snp.1011 It is identified with the Baithana or Paitana of Ptolemy.

19.482129,75.3808592town

PayāgaPayāgatiṭṭhaPayāgapatiṭṭhāna

A ford on the Ganges, on the direct route from Verañja to Benares, the road passing through Soreyya, Saṅkassa and Kaṇṇakujja, and crossing the Ganges at Payāga. Vin …

PaṭiyālokaPatiyāloka

A place near Rājagaha. Vin.iv.79 Vin.iv.131

near Rājagaha3town

…in Tāvatiṃsā and accused Pātikaputta of being a liar. Later, the Buddha visited the hermitage of Pātikaputta, with a large following, in order…

…not originally recited.

The Pātimokkha is not included in the extant Buddhist Canon. The rules are included, in the Sutta Vibhaṅga, which…

Pāvārikambavana¹

The mango grove of Pāvārika of Kosambī.

Kosambī3parkPāvārikambavana²

A mango grove at Nāḷandā where the Buddha stayed when on a visit there. DN.ii.81 It was t …

A chieftain of Setavyā, who lived on a royal domain gifted by Pasenadi. He held the view that there was no world other than this, no fruit of actions and no rebirth. But after a discussion with Kūmara …

Chief of those who had left the world through faith. AN.i.24 He was born at Thullakoṭṭhita in the Kuru country as the son of a very wealthy councillor and was called by his family name of Raṭṭhapāla. …

Son and successor of King Disampati. On the death of his father Reṇu, with the advice and co operation of his chief steward Jotipāla, who was also his great friend, divided his kingdom into seven part …

A city, the capital of Māgadha.

The place was called Giribbaja (mountain stronghold) because it was surrounded by five hills—Paṇḍava, Gijjhakūṭa, Vebhāra, Isigili and Vepulla. It is said MN.iii.68 th …

SahajātiSahajātāSahañcanika

A township where Yasa Kākandakaputta met Soreyya Revata, whom he wished to consult regarding the Ten Points raised by the Vajjiputtakas. Revata had gone there from Soreyya …

A Mahābrahmā. When the Buddha was at the Ajapālanigrodha, hesitating as to whether or not he should preach the Dhamma, Sahampati appeared before him and begged of him to open to the world the doors of …

SakkaVatrabhūVāsavaMaghavāMāghaPurindadaSahassakkhaSahassanettaSujampatiKosiya

Almost always spoken of as chief of the devas. The Saṃyutta Nikāya SN.i.229 contains a list of his names.

• Maghavā, be …

In the Aṅguttara AN.i.118f. he is represented as saying, in the course of a conversation between him, Sāriputta and Koṭṭhita, that he preferred the person who obtains relief by faith, to one who tes …

Serissaka¹

A Yakkha chieftain to be invoked in time of need by followers of the Buddha. DN.iii.205

Serissaka¹Serīsaka

A vimāna in the Cātummahārājika world, which was occupi …

A deva to whom sacrifice is offered; he is generally mentioned with Varuṇa, Pajāpati and Yama. DN.i.244 DN.ii.259

In the Āṭānāṭiya Sutta DN.iii.204 he is spoken of as a Yakkha chief.

A Sākiyan Rājā of Kapilavatthu and father of Gotama Buddha.

Māyā was his chief consort, and, after her death her sister Pajāpatī was raised to her position.

Nanda was Suddhodana’s son by Mahā Pajāp …

Sudhamma¹

He lived in Macchikāsaṇḍa, in a monastery (the Ambātakārāma) provided by Citta. Citta used to invite Sudhamma to his house for meals. One day Sāriputta, at the head of several em …

…of Sunakkhatta was Pātikaputta, and Sunakkhatta wished the Buddha to pay honour to him. But the Buddha quoted to Sunakkhatta the words of…

A Pacceka Buddha mentioned in a nominal list. MN.iii.70

Suppatiṭṭha CetiyaSupatiṭṭhacetiya

A shrine near the Latthivanuyyāna in Rājagaha. Vin.i.35

near the Latthivanuyyāna3shrine

A nigrodha tree belonging to king Koravya. The king and his court ate the first portion of the fruit as big as pipkins and sweet; the army had the second portion, the town and country people the thi …

Susīma¹

A devaputta. Once, when Ānanda utters high praise of Sāriputta, Susīma, who is present, reflects on it and confirms all that Ānanda has said. The retinue of Susīma listen enraptu …

A town in Kosala. It was regarded in the Buddha’s time as one of the six great cities of India, the others being Campā, Rājagaha, Sāvatthī, Kosambī and Benares. DN.ii.146 In the Vinaya Vin.i.253 howev …

Sāriputta

The chief disciple of Gotama- Buddha. He is also called Upatissa, which was evidently his personal name. MN.i.150 Sāriputta was a great friend of Mahāmoggallāna. After going forth together …

Tissa¹

One of the two chief disciples of Vipassī Buddha. DN.ii.4

Tissa²

A monk who was reborn as a Brahmā with great iddhi-powers. Moggallāna visited him soon after his bir …

Udaya¹

A brahmin of Sāvatthī. One day the Buddha came to his house and he filled the Buddha’s bowl with the food prepared for his own use. Three days in succession the Buddha came, and Uda …

…once his turn to recite the Pātimokkha before the Saṅgha, but because he had a crow’s voice, he had to obtain permission to make a special…

A Pacceka Buddha, found in a nominal list. MN.iii.69

UpavattaUpavattana

The sāla-grove of the Mallas of Kusināra, on the further side of the Hiraññavatī. This was the last resting-place of the Buddha on his last tour, and here he passed away, lying …

The name of the Elephant Treasure of the Cakkavatti Mahāsudassana. He was “all white, sevenfold firm (sattappatiṭṭha), wonderful in power, flying through the sky.”. DN.ii.174 MN.iii.173f.

Upāli ¹

One of the most eminent of the Buddha’s immediate disciples. He belonged to a barber’s family in Kapilavatthu and entered the service of the Sākiyan princes. When Anuruddha and his …

UruvelāSenānigamaUruvelapattana

A locality on the banks of the Nerañjara, in the neighbourhood of the Bodhi-tree at Buddhagayā. MN.i.166 The place chosen by the Bodhisatta for his penances was calle …

Uttarā¹

A bhikkhunī whose Therīgāthā verses tell of her awakening. Thig.15

Uttarā²

The Therīgāthā contains seven verses uttered by her after becoming an arahant, the result of …

Vakkali

A monk whose Theragāthā verses speak of never relinquishing energy, whether ill or happy, while meditating in the forest. Thag.350–354 The Buddha declared him foremost among those of implicit …

A king of the devas, mentioned as the companion of Sakka, Pajāpati and Isāna. In battle against the Asuras, the devas of Tāvatiṃsā were asked to look upon the banner of Varuṇa in order to have all the …

A monk whose Theragāthā verses speak of one who kills himself and others, and then address a certain Sujampati, saying that a brahmin has color on the inside. Thag.139–140

A brahmin, chief minister of Ajātasattu. He and Sunidha were in charge of the fortifications of Pāṭaligāma, built against the Vajjī. Vin.i.228 Ud.viii.6 DN.ii.72ff.

At Ajātasattu’s suggestion, Vass …

A town in which the Buddha once spent the rainy season at the invitation of the brahmin Verañja. Verañja visits the Buddha at the foot of the Naḷerupucimanda, where he is staying, and asks him a serie …

…in or near Vesāli e.g., Pātikārāma, Vālikārāma.

The Buddha generally stayed at the Kūṭāgārasālā during his visits to Vesāli, but…

Yasa ¹

He was the son of a very wealthy treasurer of Benares, and was brought up in great luxury, living in three mansions, according to the seasons and surrounded with all kinds of pleasu …

ĀjīvakāĀjīvikā

A class of naked ascetics, Vin.i.291 followers of Makkhali Gosāla, regarded, from the Buddhist point of view, as the worst of sophists. Numerous references to the Ājīvakas are to be fo …

ĀḷārakālāmaĀḷāraKālāma

One of the two teachers to whom Gotama, after his renunciation, first attached himself, the other being Uddaka Rāmaputta. In the Ariyaparivesāna Sutta MN.i.163–165; also M.i.24 …

One of the chief devas.

In the Tevijja Sutta DN.i.244 he is mentioned with Indra, Soma, Varuṇa, Pajāpati and Brahmā, as being invoked by the brahmins.

He was in the battle of the devas against the A …