The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t19.9

c6.s3.t19.9

The other proof which I derive from the years of Buddha’s residence is direct and convincing. According to the Ceylonese annals, Buddha was 35 years of age when he attained Buddhahood; he then led a houseless life for 20 years, preaching in various places in Northern India, all of which are detailed; and of the remaining 25 years of his life he spent 9 in the *Jetavana* monastery at Srâvastí, and 16 in the *Pubhá-rámo* monastery at Sâketapura.† Now, in the Burmese annals‡ these numbers are given as 19 years and 6 years, and in the last figure we have the exact number recorded by Hwen Thsang.§ Nothing can be more complete than this proof. There were only two places at which Buddha resided for any length of time, namely, *Srávasti*, at which he lived either 9 or 19 years, and *Sáketa*, at which he lived either 6 or 16 years; and as according to Hwen Thsang he lived for 6 years at Visâkha, which is described as being at some distance to the south of Srávasti, it follows of necessity that Visâkha and Sâketa were one and the same place.