Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2914

v2.c31.2914

Migāramātupāsāda.—The name given to the monastery erected by Visākhā Migāramātā in the Pubbārāma, to the east of Sāvatthi. It is said¹ that, one day, when Visākhā had gone to the monastery to hear the Dhamma and afterwards attend on the sick monks and novices, she left in the preaching hall her Mahālatāpāsadhana, and her servant-girl forgot to remove it.² Later, on going to fetch it, she found that Ānanda had put it away, and Visākhā, being told of this, decided not to wear it again. She had it valued by goldsmiths, who declared that it was worth nine crores and one hundred thousand. She had the ornament put in a cart and sent round for sale. But there was none in Sāvatthi rich enough to buy it, and Visākhā herself bought it back. With the money thus obtained she built the Migāramātupāsāda at the Budha’s suggestion. The site for the pāsāda on the Pubbārāma cost nine crores, the buildings costing another nine. While the building was being erected, the Buddha went on one of his journeys and, at Visākhā’s request, Moggallāna was left to supervise the work with five hundred other monks. Moggallāna made use of his iddhi-powers in order to expedite and facilitate the work. The building had two floors with five hundred rooms in each, the whole structure being surmounted by a pinnacle of solid gold, capable of holding sixty water-pots. The work was completed in nine months, and the celebration of its dedication was held on the Buddha’s return. These celebrations lasted for four months and cost a further nine crores. On the last day, Visākhā gave gifts of cloth to the monks, each novice receiving robes worth one thousand. The building was so richly equipped that one of Visākhā's friends, wishing to spread a small carpet, worth one hundred thousand, wandered all over the building, but could find no place of which it was worthy. Ānanda found her weeping in disappointment, and suggested that it should be spread between the foot of the stairs and the spot where the monks washed their feet.