Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.193

v1.c12.193

Kajaṅgala (Kajaṅgalā).—A township which formed the eastern boundary of the Majjhimadesa. Beyond it was Mahāsālā.¹ In the Buddha's time it was a prosperous place where provisions could easily be obtained (dabbasambhārasulabhā).² Once when the Buddha was staying in the Veḷuvana at Kajaṅgala, the lay followers there heard a sermon from the Buddha and went to the nun Kajaṅgalā to have it explained in detail.³ On another occasion the Buddha stayed in the Mukheluvana and was visited there by Uttara, the disciple of Pārāsariya. Their conversation is recorded in the Indriyabhāvanā Sutta.⁴ In the Milindapañha,⁵ Kajaṅgala is described as a brahmin village and is given as the place of Nāgasena's birth. In the Kapota Jātaka mention is made of Kajaṅgala, and the scholiast⁶ explains that it may be the same as Benares. According to the scholiast of the Bhisa Jātaka,⁷ the tree-spirit mentioned in that story was the chief resident monk in an old monastery in Kajaṅgala, which monastery he repaired with difficulty during the time of Kassapa Buddha.