Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c35.221

v2.c35.221

In one context¹⁰ Dhammapāla describes Udena as Vajjirājā. This is probably a mistake, for nowhere is Udena, who was king of the Vatsas (or Vamsas), called the king of the Vajjis. The Vajji are mentioned in the Mahānāradakassapa Jātaka (*q.v.*). It is significant that the first great schism in the Buddhist Order arose in Vajji, when the Vajjiputtakā (*q.v.*) brought forward their Ten Points. Even during the Buddha’s lifetime some monks of Vajji joined Devadatta.¹¹ According to Hiouen Thsang,¹² who visited it, the Vajji (Vriji) country was broad from east to west and narrow from north to south. The people of the neighbouring countries were called Saṃvajji, or United Vajjis.¹³ The Commentaries contain a mythical account of the origin of the name Vajji.¹⁴