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The following text has been removed here from the category page - in case any of it is pertinent / can be salvaged. Ian Cairns (talk) 14:25, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

SRAVASTI Sravasti, a city of ancient India, was one of the six largest cities in India during Gautama Buddha’s lifetime. The city was located in the fertile Gangetic plains in the present day’s Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. Jetavana monastery was a famous monastery close to Sravasti.

Sravasti was located on the banks of the river Rapti. It was the capital city of the kingdom of Kosala, and its king was called Pasenadi, who was a disciple of Buddha. It is a beautiful city with vast amounts of agriculture and diversity. During Buddha period, there were fifty seven thousand families in Sravasti, and that it was the chief city in the country of Kasi Kosala, which had eighty thousand villages. The population of Sravasti was 180 million. The road from Rajgir to Sravsti passed through Vaishali, and there were so many resting places between the two cities: Setavya, Kapilavastu, Kusinagra, Pava and Bhoganagara.

The Buddha passed the greater part of his monastic life in Sravasti. His first visit to Sravasti was at the invitation of Anathapindika, whom he met in Rajgir. The main monasteries in Sravasti were the Jetavana and the Pubbarama. Sravasti also contained the monastery of Rajakarama, built by Pasenadi, opposite Jetavana. Not far from the city was a dark forest called the Andhavana, where some monks and nun went to live. Outside the city gate of Sravasti was a fisherman's village of five hundred families.

The chief patrons of the Buddha in Sravasti were Anathapindika, Visakha, Suppavasa and Pasenadi. When Bandhula left Vaisali he came to live in Sravasti.

Of the four Nikayas, 871 suttas are said to have been preached in Sravasti; 844 of which are in Jetavana, 23 in the Pubbarama, and 4 in the suburbs of Sravasti. Out of 45 rainy seasons, Buddha spent 25 rainy seasons in Sravasti. He spent 19 in the monastery named Jetavana, and 6 in the monastery called Pubbarama. Thus, Sravasti is the place where Buddha lived the longest amount of time, and it is the place where he gave the largest amount of discourses and instructions.

Sravasti is the place where the Twin Miracle took place, in which Buddha made a demonstration of his supernatural powers for the purpose of silencing certain believers of other faiths who proclaimed that the Buddha was incapable of performing supernatural miracles. The Buddhist commentarial tradition says that Sravasti is the scene of each Buddha's Yamaka pátiháriya; Gotama Buddha performed this miracle under the Gandamba tree.

The Chinese Pilgrim Hiouen Thsang found the old city in ruins, but recorded the sites of various buildings.

Of the ancient Sravasti the city walls are still standing. Within these, the remains of 3 ancient buildings can be visited: Angulimala's stupa, Anathapindika's stupa, and an old temple dedicated to a Jain Tirthankara. Outside of Sravasti is located the stupa where the Twin Miracle took place. The site of Jetavana monastery is the main pilgrim destination, with meditation and chanting mainly done at the Gandhakuti (Buddha's hut) and the Anandabodhi tree.

Gandhakuti. Ananda Bodhi Tree.

Jetavana was one of the most famous of the Buddhist monasteries in India. It was the second monastery donated to Buddha, after the Veluvana in Rajgir. Jetavana is located just outside the old city of Sravasti. Jetavana was the place where Buddha gave many teachings and discourses, more than in any other place. Mainly, this is because Buddha spent 19 (out of 45) rainy-seasons at Jetavana, more than in any other monastery. It is said that after the Migāramātupāsāda (a second monastery erected at Pubbarama, close to Sravasti) came into being, the Buddha would dwell alternately in Jetavana and Migāramātupāsāda, often spending the day in one and the night in the other.

Donation of Jetavana. : When the Buddha accepted Anāthapindika's invitation to visit Sravasti the latter, seeking a suitable place for the Buddha's residence, discovered this park belonging to Jetakumāra (it was in the south of Sravasti). When he asked to be allowed to buy it, Jeta's reply was: "Not even if you could cover the whole place with money." Anāthapindika said that he would buy it at that price, and when Jeta answered that he had had no intention of making a bargain, the matter was taken before the Lords of Justice, who decided that if the price mentioned were paid, Anāthapindika had the right of purchase. Anāthapindika had gold brought down in carts and covered Jetavana with pieces laid side by side. The money brought in the first journey was found insufficient to cover one small spot near the gateway. So Anāthapindika sent his servants back for more, but Jeta, inspired by Anāthapindika's earnestness, asked to be allowed to give this spot. Anāthapindika agreed and Jeta erected there a gateway, with a room over it. Anāthapindika built in the grounds dwelling rooms, retiring rooms, store rooms and service halls, halls with fireplaces, closets, cloisters, halls for exercise, wells, bathrooms, ponds, open and roofed sheds, etc.

It is said that Anāthapindika paid eighteen crores for the purchase of the site, all of which Jeta spent in the construction of the gateway gifted by him. (The gateway was evidently an imposing structure.

Jeta gave, besides, many valuable trees for timber. Anāthapindika himself spent fifty-four crores in connection with the purchase of the park and the buildings erected in it.

The ceremony of dedication was one of great splendour. Not only Anāthapindika himself, but his whole family took part: his son with five hundred other youths, his wife with five hundred other noble women, and his daughters Mahā Subhaddā and Cūla Subhaddā with five hundred other maidens. Anāthapindika was attended by five hundred bankers. The festivities in connection with the dedication lasted for nine months.

The vihāra is almost always referred to as Jetavane Anāthapindikassa ārāma (Anathapindika's Monastery). The Commentaries say that this was deliberate (at the Buddha's own suggestion), in order that the names of both earlier and later owners might be recorded and that people might be reminded of two men, both very generous in the cause of the Religion, so that others might follow their example. The vihāra is sometimes referred to as Jetārāma.

Inside Jetavana Some of the chief buildings attached to the Jetavana are mentioned in the books by special names, viz., Mahāgandhakuti, Kaverimandalamāla, Kosambakuti and Candanamāla. Other buildings are also mentioned - e.g., the Ambalakotthaka-āsanasālā. According to Tibetan sources the vihāra was built according to a plan sent by the devas of Tusita and contained sixty large halls and sixty small. The Dulva also gives details of the decorative scheme of the vihāra.

All these were built by Anāthapindika; there was another large building erected by Pasenadi and called the Salalaghara. Over the gateway lived a guardian deity to prevent all evildoers from entering. Just outside the monastery was a rājayatana-tree, the residence of the god Samiddhisumana.

In the grounds there seems to have been a large pond which came to be called the Jetavanapokkharanī. (Here the Buddha often bathed). Pubbakotthaka was near this pond that Devadatta was swallowed up in Avīci.

The grounds themselves were thickly covered with trees, giving the appearance of a wooded grove (arañña). On the outskirts of the monastery was a mango-grove. In front of the gateway was the Bodhi-tree planted by Anāthapindika, which came later to be called the Anandabodhi. Not far from the gateway was a cave which became famous as the Kapallapūvapabbhāra on account of an incident connected with Macchariyakosiya.

According to the Divyāvadāna (the thūpas of Sāriputta and Moggallāna were in the grounds of Jetavana and existed until the time of Asoka. Both Fa Hien and Houien Thsang give descriptions of other incidents connected with the Buddha, which took place in the neighbourhood of Jetavana - e.g., the murder of Sundarikā, the calumny of Ciñcā, Devadatta's attempt to poison the Buddha, etc.

The Gandhakuti: Buddha's dwelling in Jetavana. The space covered by the four bedposts of the Buddha's Gandhakuti in Jetavana is one of the four avijahitatthānāni; all Buddhas possess the same, though the size of the actual vihāra differs in the case of the various Buddhas. For Vipassī Buddha, the setthi Punabbasumitta built a monastery extending for a whole league, while for Sikhī, the setthi Sirivaddha made one covering three gavutas. The Sanghārāma built by Sotthiya for Vessabhū was half a league in extent, while that erected by Accuta for Kakusandha covered only one gāvuta. Konagamana's monastery, built by the setthi Ugga, extended for half a gāvuta, while Kassapa's built by Sumangala covered sixteen karīsas. Anāthapindika's monastery covered a space of eighteen karīsas.

According to a description given by Fa Hien, the vihāra was originally in seven sections (storeys?) and was filled with all kinds of offerings, embroidered banners, canopies, etc., and the lamps burnt from dusk to dawn.

One day a rat, holding in its mouth a lamp wick, set fire to the banners and canopies, and all the seven sections were entirely destroyed. The vihāra was later rebuilt in two sections. There were two main entrances, one on the east, one on the west, and Fa Hsien found thūpas erected at all the places connected with the Buddha, each with its name inscribed.

Near Jetavana Near Jetavana was evidently a monastery of the heretics where Ciñcāmānavikā spent her nights while hatching her conspiracy against the Buddha. (Behind Jetavana was a spot where the Ajivakas practised their austerities). Once the heretics bribed Pasenadi to let them make a rival settlement behind Jetavana, but the Buddha frustrated their plans.

There seems to have been a playground just outside Jetavana used by the children of the neighbourhood, who, when thirsty, would go into Jetavana to drink. The high road to Sravasti passed by the edge of Jetavana, and travellers would enter the park to rest and refresh themselves.

Discovery and current situation.

The remains of Jetavana and Sravasti were locally known as Sahet-Mahet. Alexander Cunningham used the ancient (6th century AD) accounts of Chinese pilgrim-monks to determine that Sahet-Mahet actually referred to Jetavana and Sravasti.

Jetavana is currently a historical park, with remains of many ancient buildings such as monasteries, huts (such as the Gandhakuti and the Kosambakuti) and stupas. In Jetavana is also located the second-holiest tree of Buddhism: the Anandabodhi Tree. A visit to Sravasti and Jetavana is part of the Buddhist pilgrim route in North-India. The most revered place in Jetavana is the Gandhakuti, where Buddha used to stay.

Visakha, Great Female Supporter Visakha was the devout and generous daughter of a millionaire. When she was only seven years old, the Buddha visited her birthplace. Her grandfather, hearing of the Buddha's visit, advised Visakha to go out and welcome him. Though she was so young, she was religious and virtuous. As such, immediately after hearing the Dharma from the Buddha, she attained the first stage of sainthood. When she was fifteen years old, some Brahmins saw Visakha and thought she would be an ideal wife for their master Punnavaddhana, the son of a millionaire named Migara. Visakha possessed the five kinds of feminine beauty: beautiful hair, a beautiful figure, beautiful bone structure, beautiful skin which was smooth and golden in colour, and youthfulness. Accordingly, they made arrangements for Visakha to be married to Punnavaddhana. On her wedding day, her wise father gave her some advice under these ten headings: 1. A wife should not criticise her husband and parents-in-law in front of other people. Neither should their weaknesses or household quarrels be reported elsewhere. 2. A wife should not listen to the stories or reports of other households. 3. Things should be lent to those who return them. 4. Things should not be lent to those who do not return them. 5. Poor relatives and friends should be helped even if they do not repay. 6. A wife should sit gracefully. On seeing her parents-in-law or her husband, she should respect them by rising from her seat. 7. Before taking her food, a wife should first see that her parents-in-law and husband are served. She should also make sure that his servants are well cared for. 8. Before going to sleep, a wife should see that all doors are closed, furniture is safe, servants have performed their duties, and that parents-in-law have retired. As a rule, a wife should rise early in the morning and unless she is sick, she should not sleep during the day. 9. Her parents-in-law and husband should be treated very carefully, like fire. 10. Her parents-in-law and husband should be given the respect due to devas. From the day Visakha arrived in Sravasti, the city of her husband, she was kind and generous to everyone in the city and everyone loved her. One day, her father-in-law was eating some sweet rice porridge from a golden bowl when a monk entered the house for alms. Although her father-in-law saw the monk, he continued to eat as if he had not. Visakha politely told the monk, "Pass on, Venerable Sir, my father-in-law is eating stale food." For a long time Visakha's father-in-law had been unhappy at her because she was a devout follower and supporter of the Buddha while he was not. He was looking for a chance to break off the marriage between his son and Visakha, but her conduct was faultless. Now he saw his chance. Misunderstanding Visakha's words, he thought she had brought disgrace to his family. He ordered Visakha to be expelled from the house, but she reminded him of her father's request to eight clansmen. Her father had told them, "If there be any fault in my daughter, investigate it." The millionaire agreed to her request and summoned those eight clansmen to come and investigate whether Visakha was guilty of rudeness. When they arrived he secretly told them, "Find her guilty of this fault and expel her from the house." Visakha proved her innocence by explaining, "Sirs, when my father-in-law ignored the monk and continued to eat his milk-rice porridge he was not making merit in his present life. He was only enjoying the merits of his past actions. Was this not like eating stale food?" Her father-in-law had to admit that she was not guilty of being rude. There were other misunderstandings after this, but Visakha was able to explain to her father-in-law's satisfaction. After these incidents, her father-in-law began to realise his error and to see the great wisdom of Visakha. At her suggestion, he invited the Buddha to their house to give teachings. On hearing the discourse he became a sotapanna (first stage of sainthood). With wisdom and patience, she succeeded in converting her husband's household to a happy Buddhist home. Visakha was also very generous and helpful to the monks. She built the Pubbarama monastery for the monks at great cost. Immense was her joy when the Buddha spent six rainy seasons there. In one of the discourses that the Buddha delivered to Visakha, he spoke of the eight qualities in a woman that bring her welfare and happiness in this world and the next: "Herein, Visakha, a woman does her work well, she manages the servants, she respects her husband and she guards his wealth. Herein, Visakha, a woman has confidence (saddha) in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha; virtue (sila); charity (caga); and wisdom (panna)." Being a woman who had many talents, Visakha played an important role in various activities amongst the Buddha and his followers. At times, she was given the authority by the Buddha to settle disputes that arose amongst the nuns (bhikkhunis). Some Vinaya rules of discipline were also laid down for the nuns when she was called in to settle their disputes. Visakha died at the ripe age of one hundred and twenty

--Rajansingh76 (talk) 11:28, 30 May 2008 (UTC)