Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.605

c6.605

Pāvā.—Pāvā, Pāpā or Pāvāpurī is the same as Kāsīā, situated on the little Gandak river to the east of the district of Gorakhpur. Cunningham has identified Pāvā with Padrauna, a place of great antiquity (A.S.R., I, 74; XVI, 118). It is considered as one of the sacred places of the Jains. Mahāvīra left his mortal existence when he was dwelling in the palace of king Ṣaṣṭhipāla of Pāvā. It was at this city that the Buddha ate his last meal in the house of Cunda the smith and was attacked with dysentery. Mahākassapa while coming from Pāvā to Kuśinārā heard of the decease of the Buddha. According to Fa-hien's version of the *Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra* he was at Dakṣiṇagiri, south of Rājagṛha; according to the *Vinaya* of the *Mahāsaṅghika* he was at Gṛdhrakūṭa (Northern India according to the *Shui-Ching-Chu*, by L. Petech, p. 27). The Mallas used to reside in this city, who were devotedly attached to Mahāvīra and Buddha. Four beautiful Jaina temples were built at the spot where Mahāvīra breathed his last.