Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s7: The Bhaggas
Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s7
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The Bhaggas
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The Bhaggas formed another tribe of the Vajjian confederacy. The fact that Bodhirājakumāra, son of king Udena, resided there in a palace of his, indicates some close political relation of this tribe with Kosambī. Buddha spent the eighth vassa among the Bhaggas at Sumsumāragiri. He succeeded in converting three distinguished inhabitants of the Bhagga country, namely Nakulapitā, Nakulamātā and Bodhirājakumāra. There might have been other converts but their names do not appear in the Nikāyas. Buddha and his chief disciple Moggallāna visited this place on two or three occasions and stayed at Sumsumāragiri Bhesakalāvana-migadāya. Buddha delivered a few discourses, at the instance of Nakulapitā and Nakulamātā, two of his most favourite lay-disciples, detailing the duties of house-holders.¹ The discourses delivered here by Moggallāna relate to the means of overcoming passions (māratajjanīya).² It was while Buddha was residing in this country that Bodhirājakumāra requested Buddha to stay in his newly built palace Kokanada for a day in order to sanctify it by his presence, and give him the opportunity of formally taking refuge in Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.³
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¹ Aṅguttara, II, p. 61; III, p. 295. IV, pp. 85, 268: Saṃyutta, IV, p. 116.
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² Majjhima, I, pp. 95, 332.
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³ Ibid., II, p. 91.
Cites (8)
- Bodhirājakumārasutta — Pāli
- Māratajjanīyasutta — Pāli
- Nakulamātāsutta — Pāli
- Hāliddikānisutta — Pāli
- Anumānasutta — Pāli
- Nakulapitusutta — Pāli
- Pacalāyamānasutta — Pāli
- Paṭhamasamajīvīsutta — Pāli