Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c6.429

v1.c6.429

1. Aciravatī.—A river, the modern Rāpti in Oudh; one of the Pañcamahānadī,¹ the five great rivers flowing from the Himālaya eastwards (pācīnaninnā²) into the sea. During the hot season it ran dry, leaving a bed of sand.³ It flowed through Kosala, and at Savatthi an udumbara grove grew on its banks; it could be seen from the terrace of Pasenadi's palace.⁴ To the south of it was Manasākaṭa, and on its southern bank was a mango grove where the Buddha sometimes resided.⁵ The Tevijja Sutta was preached here, and the Aciravatī is used in a simile to prove the futility of sacrifices and prayers: it is of no use standing on one bank of the river and calling to the other bank to come over.