Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.342

c6.342

*Jetavana.*—It was one of the royal gardens in Northern India which became a favourite retreat of the Buddha (*Dīgha*, I, 178) and an early centre of Buddhism. It was situated at a distance of one mile to the south of Śrāvastī (modern Saheth-Maheth). It was a Buddhist monastic establishment in the suburb of Śrāvastī, which perpetuates the noble deeds of Prince Jeta, who is said to have laid out the Jetavana garden, according to the *Mahāvaṃsa Commentary* (P.T.S., p. 102). This monastic institution is represented as Anāthapiṇḍika’s *ārāma* to perpetuate the memory of Anāthapiṇḍika, the purchaser of the site (*Papañcasūdanī*, I, 60-61). With the construction of the Jetavana monastery and the formal dedication of the same to the Buddha by Anāthapiṇḍika was erected the first permanent centre of Buddhism in Kośala proper, particularly in Śrāvastī. After his return to Śrāvastī from Rājagṛha the banker Anāthapiṇḍika was on a look-out for a suitable site for constructing the *ārāma*. Prince Jeta’s garden appeared to be the desired site. As soon as the Prince agreed to sell it, the banker employed his men to cut down the trees and clear the site. The whole of the site was laid with gold. According to the *Vinaya* account the banker caused to be built therein a number of buildings, e.g., dwelling rooms (*vihāras*), retiring rooms (*pariveṇas*), store-rooms (*koṭṭhakas*), service halls (*upaṭṭhānasālās*), halls with fire-places in them (*aggisālās*), closets, cloisters, wells, bath-rooms, tanks, pavilions, etc. To complete this work of piety a huge amount of money had to be spent. It is interesting to note that all the stages in the process of construction of this monastery consummated by the ceremony of dedication, are represented in the Barhut bas-relief, while the Bodh-gaya relief illustrates only the scene of fulfilment of the term of purchase (Barua, *Gayā and Buddhagayā*, II, 104-5; Barua, *Barhut*, II, 27-31). The Karerikuṭi, the Kosambakuṭi, the Gandhakuṭi and the Salalaghara were the four main buildings in the Jetavana (*Sumaṅgalavilāsinī*, II, 407). This locality at Śrāvastī occurs in Luders’ List, No. 731 as well as in the Jātaka Label No. 5 (Barua and Sinha, *Barhut Inscriptions*, p. 59). It was at this place that king Prasenajit of Kośala became the Buddha’s disciple (*Samyutta Nikāya*, I, 68ff.). A Buddhist inscription from Bodhgayā of the reign of Jayacandradeva points out that Govindacandra, the Gāhaḍavāla king of Kanauj, who was married to a Buddhist princess named Kumāradevī, set apart several villages for the support of the monks living in the Jetavana Vihāra (E.I., XI, 20ff.). In this *vihāra* the Buddha lived for some time (*Dīpavaṃsa*, p. 21; *Mahāvaṃsa*, p. 7). For further details vide B. C. Law, *Śrāvastī in Indian Literature*, M.A.S.I., No. 50, pp. 22ff.