Geography of Early Buddhism c7.s1.20

c7.s1.20

Avanti was an important centre of Buddhism. Some of the leading theras and theris were either born or resided there, e.g., Abhayakumāra (Th. G.C., 39), Isidāsī (Therī G.C., 261-64), Isidatta (Th. G., 120), Soṇakuṭikaṇṇa (VT., pt. II, p. 32; Th. G., 369; Udāna, V, 6), and Mahākaccāna (SN., III, p. 9; Ibid., IV, p. 117; AN., I, p. 23, Vol. V, 46; MN., III, pp. 194, 223). From the Psalms of the Brethren (pp. 238-239) we learn that Kaccāyana the Great was born at Ujjeni in the family of the Chaplain of King Caṇḍapajjota. It is expressly stated that Mahākaccāna converted the King to the Buddhist faith. The Dhammapada commentary (Vol. V, p. 101) tells us that when Mahākaccāna was living at the city of Kuraraghara in Avanti, he ordained an upāsaka named Sonakuṭikaṇṇa. The Psalms of the Brethren (p. 107) tells us that the Thera Isidatta was one of the converts of Mahākaccāyana. He was born in the kingdom of Avanti at Veḷugāma.