Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c29.222
Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names v2.c29.222
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v2.c29.222
Bārāṇasī.—The capital of Kāsi-janapada. It was one of the four places of pilgrimage for the Buddhists—the others being Kapilavatthu, Buddhagayā and Kusināra—because it was at the Migadāya in Isipatana near Bārāṇasi that the Buddha preached his first sermon to the Pañcavaggiya.¹ This was the spot at which all Buddhas set in motion the Wheel of the Law (Dhammacakka). It is the custom of Buddhas to travel by air from the Bodhi-tree to the scene of their first sermon, a distance of eighteen leagues,² but the present Buddha did all the journey on foot in order to be able to meet on the way the Ājīvaka Upaka (q.v.).