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Giñjakāvasatha

In the Giñjakāvasatha the Buddha taught the Cūlagosiṅga Sutta (M.i.205), the Janavasabha Sutta (D.ii.200) and several discourses on mindfluness of death (maraṇa-sati) (e.g., A.iii.303f; 306f; 391f; iv.320f); also the discourses to the Elder Sandha of the Kaccānagotta (A.v.322f) and the Elder Kaccāyana (S.ii.153f; see also S.ii.74; iv.90).

Both in the Janavasabha Sutta and the Giñjakāvasatha Sutta (S.v.356f), which was taught at the same place, the Buddha is represented as having answered questions regarding the destiny and the rebirth of several residents of Nādikā. Does this perhaps mean that the people of Nādikā were more interested in this problem than the people of other places? It was by way of finding a permanent solution to these questions that the Buddha taught to Ānanda at Giñjakāvasatha the Dhammā-dāsa (Mirror of Truth) on his last visit to Nādikā, as described in the Mahā Parinibbāna Sutta (D.ii.91ff; see also S.v.357).

The Commentaries (e.g., MA.i.424) state that once the Buddha arrived at Nādikā while travelling in the Vajji country, and the people there built for him a residence entirely made of bricks (giñjakā), hence its name. Later, residences were also built for the monks, complete with all requirements. The bricks were evidently a special architectural feature, and this con-firms the belief that buildings were generally of wood. The “Brick Hall” was, however, not designed for the Buddha and his monks alone, for we find mention of members of other sects staying there — e.g., the Paribbājaka Sabhiya Kaccāna (S.iv.401). The building was probably a resting place for all travellers.

Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names • G.P. Malalasekera