Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c20.34

v1.c20.34

Ñātika (*v.l.* Nāḍika, Nātika).—A locality in the Vajji country on the highway between Koṭigāma and Vesāli. The Buddha first went there in the course of one of his tours, and the inhabitants, being greatly attracted by him, built for him a residence in brick, the Giñjakāvasatha (*q.v.*), which, in course of time, became a great vihāra.¹ The Buddha, subsequently, seems to have stayed several times in Ñātika. According to the Cūḷagosiṅga Sutta² he stayed there soon after the schism of the Kosambī monks and sought the Gosiṅgasālavana, evidently in the neighbourhood where Anuruddha, Nandiya and Kimbila were in residence. The Buddha also visited Ñātika on his last journey, while on his way to Kusināra, and was staying there on the day that he accepted Ambapālī’s hospitality and her gift of the Ambapāliambavana.³ It was evidently during this stay that Ānanda questioned the Buddha as to the lot of various pious inhabitants of Ñātika who had been zealous followers of the Buddha’s teaching. Among them several are mentioned by name—the monk Sāḷha, the nun Nandā, Sudatta, Kakudha, Kāliṅga, Nikaṭa, Kaṭissabha, Tuṭṭha, Santuṭṭha, Bhadda, Subhadda and the upāsikā Sugatā. The Buddha tells Ānanda of their destiny, and informs him that more than ninety people of Ñātika had become Sakadāgāmins and more than five hundred Sotāpannas. He then proceeds to proclaim the discourse which has become famous as the Dhammādāsa.⁴ The Janavasabha Sutta,⁵ which was also preached at Ñātika, is evidently based on this incident and is probably an elaboration of the same. The Saṃyutta Nikāya and the Aṅguttara Nikāya record other suttas on different topics preached at Ñātika.⁶ Mention is also made of discussions between the Buddha and Kaccāyana⁷ and Sandha,⁸ and also of a discussion between Sabhiya Kaccāyana and Vacchagotta.⁹