The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t25: Páwá, or Padraona.
The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t25
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Páwá, or Padraona.
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In the Ceylonese chronicles the town of *Páwá* is mentioned as the last halting-place of Buddha before reaching *Kusinagara*, where he died. After his death it is again mentioned in the account of *Kâsyapa’s* journey to *Kusinagara* to attend at the cremation of Buddha’s corpse. *Páwá* was also famous as one of the eight cities which obtained a share of the relics of Buddha. In the Ceylonese chronicles it is noted as being only 12 miles from *Kusinagara*,† towards the *Gandak* river. Now 12 miles to the north-north-east of *Kasia* there is a considerable village named *Pada-raona*, or *Padara-vana*, with a large mound covered with broken bricks, in which several statues of Buddha have been found. The name of Paḍara-vana, or Paḍarban, might easily be shortened to Parban, Paban, and Pâwâ. In the Tibetan ‘*Kahgyur*’* this town is called Digpachan, but as the meaning of the name is not given, it is impossible to say whether it is an original Indian name or a Tibetan translation. Between Pâwâ and Kusinagara there was a stream called Kukutthâ, or Kakukhâ,† at which Buddha stopped to bathe and drink. This must be the present Bádhi, or Barhi, or Bandhi Nala, which, after a course of 36 miles, joins the Chota Gandak, or Hirana river on its left bank, 8 miles below Kasia.
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∗ See Map No. XI. for the positions of both places.
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† The first name is found in the Ceylonese chronicles, the second in the Burmese version.