A well-known paribbājaka who lived in the Paribbājakārāma on the banks of the River Sappinī near Rājagaha. He is mentioned as staying with the well-known paribbājakas, Varadhara and Sakuludāyi. …

An eminent wandering ascetic. He is mentioned as living in the Paribbājakārāma in the Moranivāpa in Veḷuvana near Rājagaha. He was probably one of the company who was with Sakuludāyi when the Buddha c …

A banker (seṭṭhi) of Sāvatthī who became famous because of his unparalleled generosity to the Buddha. His first meeting with the Buddha was during the first year after the Enlightenment, in Rājagaha …

Assaji¹

The fifth of the Pañcavaggiyā monks. When the Buddha preached the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, he was the last in whom dawned the eye of Truth, and the Buddha had to discourse to h …

A park about three miles from Kosambī SN.iii.126 where Khemaka stayed during his illness. Rāhula spent a whole night in the Buddha’s toilet at the Badarikārāma because he was unwilling to violate the …

Bhadda¹

A lay disciple of Nādikā who, the Buddha declared, had destroyed the five lower fetters and had been born in the highest deva worlds, thence to pass away entirely. DN.ii.92

Bhadda …

Bhaddā¹

Wife of King Muṇḍa. At her death the king placed her body in a vessel of oil and mourned for her until his friend Piyaka took him to Nārada Thera at the Kukkuṭārāma, and there made …

Bhagu¹

A famous sage of old. Vin.i.245 DN.i.104 DN.i.238 DN.i.243 MN.ii.169 MN.ii.200 AN.iii.224 AN.iv.61

Bhagu²

He was born in a Sākiyan family, and having left the world wit …

He lived at Suṃsumāragiri in the Bhagga country and built a palace called Kokanada. When the palace was completed, the Buddha was staying at Bhesakalāvana near by, and Bodhi sent a message by Sañjikāp …

Bāhiya¹Dārucīriya

As an ascetic, he came himself to believe that he had attained arahantship, but a devatā, reading his thoughts and wishing him well, pointed out to him his error and ad …

Bālakaloṇakāra BākalonakārāgamaBālakalonakārāma

A locality near Kosambī.

When the monks of Kosambī started quarrelling, the Buddha left them and went to Bālakalonakārāma, where he visited Bhagu and …

Candana¹

A deva, vassal of the Four Regent Gods. DN.ii.258 He is mentioned as one of the chief Yakkhas to be invoked by followers of the Buddha in case of need. DN.iii.204 He once visited …

Channa¹

A Wanderer, classed among those who wore clothes. He is only mentioned once, in the Aṅguttara Nikāya, AN.iii.215 where we are told that he visited Ānanda at Sāvatthī and asked him …

Citta¹

A householder of Macchikāsaṇḍa, where he was Treasurer. He was later declared by the Buddha to be pre-eminent among laymen who preached the Doctrine. AN.i.26

When Mahānāma visited …

…rice and cakes and sūkaramaddava. At the meal the Buddha ordered that he alone should be served with sūkaramaddava, and that what was left…

A householder of Aṭṭhakanāgara. One day, having finished some business which took him to Pāṭaliputta, he visited the Kukkuṭārāma to call upon Ānanda. Learning that Ānanda was at Beluvagāma near Vesāli …

A pool near Kosambī. Close by was the Pilakkhaguhā and the Paribbājakārāma, where Ānanda once visited Sandaka and held a discussion with him. MN.i.513

25.321684,81.3180543lake

A rājā, probably of Māgadha. He was a devout follower of Uddaka-Rāmaputta. In his retinue were Yamaka, Moggalla, Ugga, Nāvindakī, Gandhabba, and Aggivessa, all of whom were also followers of the same …

An attendant of King Eḷeyya and a follower of Uddaka Rāmaputta. AN.ii.180

Gaṇaka-Moggallāna

A brahmin teacher of Sāvatthī. He visited the Buddha at the Pubbārāma, and the Buddha preached to him the Gaṇaka-Moggallāna Sutta, after which, it is said, he became the Buddha’s …

A Sākiyan of Kapilavatthu, who built a monastery attached to the Nigrodhārāma. There the Mahā Suññatā Sutta was preached. MN.iii.110

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 …

Gopaka²

A monk. He once stayed at the Kukkuṭārāma in Pāṭaliputta, where he was given a set of robes. Vin.i.300

Gopaka³

A deva. A series of verses attributed to Gopaka are give …

JetavanaJeta’s GroveAnāthapiṇḍaka’s ParkAnāthapiṇḍikassa ārāmaAnāthapiṇḍada’s Park

A park in Sāvatthī, in which was built the Anāthapiṇḍikārāma. When the Buddha accepted Anāthapiṇḍika’s invitation to …

A wanderer who, with his friend Mandissa, visited the Buddha at the Ghositārāma. DN.i.159 The Buddha preached to them the Jāliya Sutta. According to the Pātika Sutta, when Jāliya heard that Pātika cou …

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 …

KassapakārāmaKassapārāma

A monastery in Rājagaha, probably near Veḷuvana. It was here that Assaji stayed during his last illness, when the Buddha visited him to comfort him. SN.iii.125

25.01281,85.3 …

An arahant. Once, when he lay very ill at the Badarikārāmā, near Kosambī, some monks, staying at the Ghositārāma, sent one of their number, Dāsaka, with a message to Khemaka, inquiring whether he mana …

The capital of the Vatsas or Vaṃsas. In the time of the Buddha its king was Parantapa, and after him reigned his son Udena. Kosambī was evidently a city of great importance at the time of the Buddha f …

One of the republican clans in the time of the Buddha. The Koḷiyā owned two chief settlements—one at Rāmagāma and the other at Devadaha.

Attached probably to the Koliyan central authorities, was a sp …

A park in Pāṭaliputta. It was evidently the residence of monks from very early times, probably, for some time, of the Buddha himself. The Mahāvagga Vin.i.300 mentions the names of several theras who l …

A Sākyan. His name was Khemaka, but as he was dark he was called Kālakhemaka. He built a monastery in Nigrodhārāma, near Kapilavatthu, and once, during robe-making time, many monks lived there. On th …

A monk whose Theragāthā verse says that, thrusting aside grasses with his chest, he will seek seclusion. Thag.27

According to the Lomasakaṅgiya Bhaddekaratta Sutta, MN.iii.199f. Candana visited Lom …

The Saṃyutta Nikāya mentions an interview between an Elder of this name and the Sākyan Mahānāma. Mahānāma asks the Elder if the learner’s way of life is identical with that of the Tathāgata. Vaṅgīsa a …

MadhurāMathurā

The capital of Surasena, situated on the Yamunā. Its king, soon after the death of Bimbisāra, was Avantiputta, MN.ii.83 who, judging by his name, was probably related to the royal fami …

MahākaccāyanaKaccāyanaMahākaccānaKaccāna

One of the most eminent disciples of the Buddha, considered chief among expounders in full of the brief saying of the Buddha. AN.i.23 Several suttas illustrat …

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 …

Mahānāma¹

A Sākiyan rājā, son of Amitodana; he was elder brother of Anuruddha and cousin of the Buddha. When the Sākiyan families of Kapilavatthu sent their representatives to join the Ord …

Chief queen of Pasenadi, king of Kosala.

Mallika’s knowledge of the Dhamma made her wiser than Pasenadi would have desired, and he once, in a moment of great affection, asked if anyone were dearer to …

Mallikāya ārāmaMallikārāma

A park in Sāvatthī belonging to Queen Mallikā. DN.i.178 MN.ii.22

27.50735, 82.074733park

…took his last meal, of Sūkaramaddava, at the house of Cunda. DN.ii.126f. From there he went to Kusinārā, and there, as he lay dying, he sent…

A class of devas possessing lovely forms. Once a large number of them visited Anuruddha at the Ghositirāma and announced to him that in a trice they could assume any colour they desired, produce any s …

A group of monks, followers of Mettiya and Bhummajaka forming part of the Chabbaggiyā (Group of Six Monks).

Twice they brought an unfounded charge of breach of morality against Dabba Mallaputta, who …

The name given to the monastery erected by Visākhā Migāramātā in the Pubbārāma, to the east of Sāvatthī. It is said that, one day, when Visākhā had gone to the monastery to hear the Dhamma and afterwa …

A man in the retinue of King Eḷeyya. He was a follower of Uddaka Rāmaputta. AN.ii.187

A grove in Veḷuvana at Rājagaha. It contained a Paribbājakārāma, the resort of recluses of various denominations. The Udumbarika Sīhanāda, the Mahā Sakuladāyi and the Culla Sakūladāyi Suttas were prea …

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.

A king of Māgadha, great grandson of Ajātasattu and son of Anuruddha. It is probably this same king who is referred to in the Aṅguttara Nikāya. AN.iii.57ff. His wife Bhaddā died, and Muṇḍa gave hims …

Nandaka¹

Once, at the Buddha’s request, he preached a sermon to the nuns; on the first day they became sotāpannas, and, on the second, five hundred of them attained arahantship. MN.iii.270 …

Nandiya¹

He belonged to a Sākiyan family of Kapilavatthu, and was called Nandiya because his birth brought bliss. He left the world at the same time as Anuruddha, Kimbila and the others, a …

Nigrodha¹

A wanderer. Once, when he was staying with a large number of colleagues at the Udumbarikārāma near Rājagaha, Sandhāna, on his way to see the Buddha, stopped him and entered into …

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 Thera mentioned as staying at the Kukkuṭārāma in Pāṭaliputta. Vin.i.300

A monk, mentioned once as staying at the Ghositārāma in Kosambī, with Musila, Savittha, and Ānanda. In the course of discussion he declares that, though aware of the nature of nibbana, he is not an ar …

One of King Eḷeyya’s guards. He was a follower of Rāmaputta. AN.ii.180

A Brahmā who was present at the Mahāsamaya. DN.ii.260

One of the Theras dwelling in the Kukkuṭārāma in Pāṭaliputta in the time of the Buddha. Vin.i.300

A wanderer. A discussion between him and the Buddha on samādhi and on the soul, which took place in Mallikārāma in Sāvatthī, is reported in the Poṭṭhapāda Sutta. Poṭṭhapāda, accepting the Buddha’s v …

A bathing place in Sāvatthī, near the Migāramātupāsāda, and therefore to the east of the city. Mention is made AN.iii.345 of the Buddha having bathed there. It was evidently extensive, for Pasenadi’s …

A monastery outside the eastern gate of Sāvatthī.

27.52532, 82.089843monastery

The Buddha visited Pātaligāma shortly before his death. Although it later became the capital of Magadha, it was then a mere village. At that time Ajātasattu’s ministers, Sunīdha and Vassakāra, were en …

A naked ascetic of Vesāli who went about claiming to have greater mystic powers than the Buddha, and thereby much impressed Sunakkhatta. Pātikaputta had prophesied that, after death, the Licchavi gene …

Revata¹Khadiravaniya

An eminent disciple of the Buddha, declared by him foremost among forest dwellers. AN.i.24

His Theragāthā verses appear under two names. As Khadiravaniya he admonishe …

RāhulaRāhulabhadda

Only son of Gotama Buddha. When the Buddha visited Kapilavatthu for the first time after his Enlightenment and accepted Suddhodana’s invitation, Rāhula’s mother sent the boy to the …

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 …

RāmagāmakaRāmagāma

A Koliyan village on the banks of the Ganges. Its inhabitants claimed and obtained a share of the Buddha’s relics, over which they erected a thūpa. DN.ii.167

26.146795,84.098271town

A monk whose Theragāthā verse speaks of how his mind does not waver among the sounds of nature. Thag.49

A famous Paribbājaka. The Mahā-Sakuladāyī and the Culla Sakuladāyī Suttas record two conversations between him and the Buddha in the Paribbājakārāma at Moranivāpa in Rājagaha.

He is also said to hav …

A Paribbājaka who joined the Order and soon after left it. He then went about proclaiming in Rājagaha that he knew the Dhamma and Vinaya of the Sakyaputta monks, and that was why he had left their Ord …

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 …

SippinikātīraSappinīSappinīkā

A river that flowed through Rājagaha. On its bank was a Paribbājakārāma where famous Paribbājakas lived in the Buddha’s time. AN.i.185 AN.ii.29 AN.ii.176 SN.i.153

Rājagaha3river

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 …

SumāgadhāSumāgavā

A lotus pond near Rājagaha. The Saṃyutta Nikāya mentions the Buddha as relating the story of a man who went to Sumāgadhā with the thought, “I will speculate about the world.” He saw …

…his allegiance to Kandaramasaka, who died, as the Buddha had prophesied, fallen from grace and fame. The next teacher to win the admiration of…

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 …

…’Sakyā vata bho kumārā, paramasakyā vata bho rājakumāra; hence their name came to be ‘Sakyā.’

The Buddha states, in the Aggañña Sutta,…

A large lake below the Vebhāra mountain, outside Rājagaha. The lake was cool, but the stream flowing from it, also called Tapodā, Vin.iii.108 Vin.iv.116f. was hot. Around it was the Tapodārāma.

Mon …

A grove near lake Tapodā. In the grove was a monastery where the Buddha seems to have stayed on several occasions. It is said DN.ii.116 that on one such occasion the Buddha gave Ānanda the chance of a …

TindukkhānuTindukkhānuparibbājakārāma

A dwelling of wanderers near Vesāli. It was the residence of Pāthikaputta. DN.iii.17

near Vesāli3non-Buddhist monastery

Todeyya¹

A Mahāsāla brahmin, mentioned in a list of eminent brahmins gathered together at Icchanankala and Manasākaṭa. DN.i.235 Snp.p.115

There was in Caṇḍalakappa a mango grove belonging …

UddakaRāmaputta

One of the teachers under whom Gotama, after leaving the world and before he became the Buddha, received instruction. Uddaka taught him the doctrine which had been realised and procla …

He once visited the Buddha and told him how he rivalled in power and wealth the seṭṭhi Migāra, grandson of Rohana. He was worth one hundred thousand in gold alone, to say nothing of silver. The Buddha …

A monk who was occasionally the attendant of the Buddha, and who features in a number of discourses. Once when the Buddha was attacked by cramp, Upavāna, with the help of his lay-friend Devahita, obt …

A Yakkhinī, mother of Punabbasu and Uttarā. Once as she passed Jetavana at sunset looking for food, with her daughter on her hip and holding her son by his finger, she saw the assembly, intently liste …

A diminutive form of Uttarā used by Uttaramātā, the Yakkhinī, in addressing her daughter. SN.i.210

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 …

A householder of Campā, a devout and skilled follower of the Buddha. Once, when on his way to see the Buddha at Gaggarā Lake, he found he had arrived too early and went into the Paribbājakārāma near b …

A noted wanderer in the time of the Buddha. He lived with Annabhāra, Sakuludāyī and others in the Paribbājakārāma, on the banks of the Sappinikā, AN.ii.29 AN.ii.176 and again in the Moranivāpa in Rāja …

VaraṇāVāraṇā

A city on the banks of the Kaddamadaha, where Ārāmadaṇḍa visited Mahākaccāna. AN.i.65

Avanti3town

VekaliṅgaVebhaliṅgaVehaliṅga

A township where lived Ghaṭīkāra, friend of Jotipāla. SN.i.34 SN.i.60

The township was in Kosala, and once, during his long stay in Kosala, the Buddha visited the ārāma …

A city, capital of the Licchavis. It is not possible to know how many visits were paid by the Buddha to Vesāli, but the books would lead us to infer that they were several. Various Vinaya rules are me …

Visākhā¹

. Thig.13

Visākhā²

The chief among the female lay disciples of the Buddha and declared by him to be foremost among those who ministered to the Order. AN.i.26 She is c …

One of the great sages honoured by the brahmins as authors of hymns. Vin.i.245 DN.i.104 Compare Rigveda 5.26; Rāmāyana 1.7, etc.

A class of non human beings generally described as non-human. They are mentioned with Devas, Rakkhasas, Dānavas, Gandhabbas, Kinnaras, and Mahoragas (? Nāgas).

Elsewhere AN.ii.38 they rank, in progr …

A man belonging to the retinue of King Eḷeyya. He was a follower of Uddaka Rāmaputta. AN.ii.180

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 …

A brahmin. Once when Mahā Kaccāna was staying at Vāraṇā on the banks of the Kaddamadaha, Ārāmadaṇḍa came to see him and asked him why nobles quarrelled with nobles, brahmins with brahmins, and househo …

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 …