Geography of Early Buddhism c7.71

c7.71

The kingdom of the Vaṃsas or Vatsas is mentioned in the Aṅguttara Nikāya as one of the sixteen great countries of India. The capital of the country was Kausāmbi identical with modern Kosam near Allahabad. The Bhagga (i.e. Bharga) state of Sumsumāragiri was a dependency of the Vatsa kingdom (Jātaka No. 353; Bhandarkar, Carmichael lectures, p. 63). This is confirmed by the Mahābhārata (II, 30, 10-11) and the Harivaṃśa (29, 73) which testify to the close association of these two realms.² In the Dīgha Nikāya (Vol. II, pp. 146, 169) we find that Kosambi was suggested as one of the great cities where the Blessed one should attain Mahāparinibbāna. In the Sutta Nipāta Commentary (Vol. II, p. 584) we are told that the city of Kosambi was visited by the followers of Bāvarī, a leader of the Jaṭilas. Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja dwelt at Ghositārāma at Kosambi. From the Psalms of the Brethren (pp. 110-111) we know that he was the son of the Chaplain to King Udena of Kosambi. He went to Rājagaha, entered the Order and in due time attained the sixfold abhiññā (supernatural knowledge). In the Saṃyutta (Vol. IV, pp. 110-112) a conversation on religious subjects which took place between King Udena of Kosambi and Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja is related. While the Buddha was staying at Ghositārāma at Kosambi, he held discourses on Dhamma, Vinaya, etc. (VT., pt. III, p. 233).