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Bhesakalāvana

A grove in the Bhagga country. It contained a Deer Park wherein the Buddha stayed, on Suṃsumāragiri. Nearby was the house in which lived Nakulapitā and Nakulamātā.¹ Once, when the Buddha was at Bhesakalāvana, he saw, with his divine-eye, Anuruddha dwelling in the Pācīnavaṃsadāya in the Ceti country, and appeared before him to encourage him in his meditations.² The palace Kokanada, built for Prince Bodhi, was in the neighbourhood of the grove.³

It was while staying in this grove that Mahā-Moggallāna was molested by Māra and he taught the Māratajjaniya Sutta.⁴

Siṅgālapitā is said to have retired to Bhesakalāvana for his meditations.⁶

The grove received its name from the fact that its presiding spirit was a yakkhiṇī called Bhesākalā.⁶⁶

According to the Buddhavaṃsa Commentary,⁷ the Buddha spent the eighth Rainy Seasons (vassa) at Bhesakalāvana. The Divyāvadāna calls it Bhīsanikāvana.⁸

¹ A.ii.61; iii.295; S.iii.1; iv.116. ² A.iv.228 ff; J.iii.157.

³ Vin.ii.127; DhA.iii.134, etc. ⁴ M.i.332. ⁵ ThagA.i.70.

⁶ SA.ii.181. ⁷ BuA.3. ⁸ Dvy.182.