Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.3294

v2.c36.3294

Sumsumāragiri.—A city in the Bhagga country, of which it was probably the capital.¹ The Buddha spent the eighth vassa there.² Near the city was the Bhesakalāvana (q.v.) where the Buddha stayed. During his visits there he preached the Anumāna Sutta³ and the Bodhirāja Sutta.⁴ The city was the residence of Nakulapitā and his wife,⁵ with whom the Buddha had several interviews. It is said that once, when the Buddha was at Sumsumāragiri, he saw with his divine eye Moggallāna at Kallavālamutta half asleep, and appeared before him and admonished him.⁶ On another occasion, he saw Anuruddha in the Veḷuvana in the Ceti country, pondering over the seven Mahāpurisavitakkas, and appeared before him to encourage him.⁷ Both incidents show that the Buddha visited Sumsumāragiri quite early in his career, in the first year after the Enlightenment. Moggallāna also stayed in Sumsumāragiri, and there Māra is said to have entered his stomach and to have given him trouble.⁸ Sumsumāragiri was the birthplace of Sirimaṇḍa Thera⁹ and the scene of the meditations of Siṅgālakapitā.¹⁰