Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.360

c8.360

Buddha spent much of his time at Nālandā in the mango grove of Pāvārika. It was at this place that Sāriputta came to see him and there was a discussion held between them on the subject of the lineage of the faith (D.N., II, 81-83). The Buddha held a comprehensive talk with the monks about right conduct, earnest interpretation and intelligent discourse (D.N., II, 83-84). While the Master was here, a rich burgess presented him with a vihāra and a park. Sāriputta came to him and said, 'There is nobody whether a monk or a Brahmin who is greater than the Exalted One as regards the higher wisdom and this is the faith which I cherish in my mind.' In reply the Buddha delivered a discourse on the faith that satisfied him (cf. D.N., III, 99). Here the Master was met by a Jaina named Dīghatapassi. He asked the Jain as to the number of acts (karmas) mentioned by Nigaṇṭha Nāthaputta in order to destroy sinful deeds (Majjhima, Vol. I, 371ff.). Upāli, a householder, came to see the Buddha at Nālandā and asked him about the cause of his passing away from this life (Samyutta, IV, 110). A village headman named Asibandhakaputta went to the Buddha who told him that one should sow seeds according to the fertility of the soil (Samyutta, IV, pp. 311ff.). While the Buddha was staying at Nālandā, he spoke about the three wonders of the gods to Kevaddha, a young householder (Dīgha, I,—Kevaddha Sutta). While the Buddha was staying in a mango grove at Nālandā, he held a discussion with the Jain Dīghatapassi, about three kinds of penalty, etc. The Buddha declared the mental action as the most sinful (Law, Historical Gleanings, pp. 91-92). Here at Nālandā Mahāvīra met Makkhali Gosāla. The consequence of this meeting seems to be disastrous. For six years Mahāvīra and Makkhali Gosāla lived together practising austere asceticism, but afterwards Gosāla separated himself from Mahāvīra and set up a religious system of his own (Uvāsagadasāo, pp. 109ff.; cf. Cambridge History of India, Vol. I, pp. 158-59). Mahāvīra spent fourteen rainy seasons in the suburb of Nālandā and he spent the greater part of his missionary life in this place which contains a beautiful Jain temple of Mahāvīra (N. L. Dey, Geographical Dictionary, 137).