Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.619

c6.619

Pūrvārāma (Pubbārāma).—It was a Buddhist monastery situated in the neighbourhood of Śrāvastī to the north-east of Jetavana and erected by Viśākhā, the daughter-in-law of the banker Migāra. The circumstances which led to the erection of this monastery are related in the Dhammapada Commentary (Vol. I, 384-420). One day Viśākhā returned home from the Jetavana Vihāra, forgetting all about her valuable necklace which she took off her person and left behind in the monastery. On getting it back she refused to wear it and sold it for a big amount. She utilised the money in purchasing a site whereupon she built a monastery and dedicated it to the Order. Wood and stone were the materials used for the construction of the monastery which stood up as a magnificent two-storied building with innumerable rooms on the ground and first floors (Dhammapada Commentary, I, 414). This monastery was known as Pubbārāma-Migāramātupāsāda. The Buddha delivered the Aggañña Suttanta while he was dwelling in the palace of Migāramātā (Dīgha, III, p. 80). For further details vide B. C. Law, Śrāvastī in Indian Literature (M.A.S.I., No. 50).