Site of the Miracle of the Pairs
According to Buddhist literature, Shravasti was the capital town of Kosala and one of the six great Indian cities during the lifetime of the Buddha. Buddha first visited Shravasti on the invitation of Anathapindika (born Sudatta), a rich merchant from Shravasti. Anathapindika wished to make an offering of a monastery to Buddha at his hometown Shravasti. According to Buddha’s wishes the monastery had to meet certain specifications, neither too far from village, nor too near, accessible to people, secluded from people, fit for meditation. Buddha asked his prominent disciple Sariputta to go along with Anathapindika to assist him find a suitable place meeting the requirements. But the most suitable place was owned by Prince Jeta, the son of King Prasenajit of Kosala, who had no plans to sell. However, when Anathapindika offered to pave every inch of the land with gold, Jeta was quite impressed and accepted the offer. Thus, Buddha and his followers received the Jetavana, capable of accommodating 10,000 people. Buddha spent 19 rainy seasons at Jetavana and gave many discourses here. Xuanzang saw two pillars, 70-foot high, erected at its gate by Emperor Ashoka.
Anathapindika is considered to be the disciple who was foremost in both generosity and character. Throughout his life, Anathapindika received hundreds of monks at his house for alms daily and regularly sent food, medicines and supplies to the Jetavana monastery. For his contributions to Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, a stupa was later erected at the site of his house inside the city.
On the basis of Xuanzang’s descriptions, Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1863 identified the ancient remains of Sahet-Mahet as the site of Shravasti. An excavation led by him at Sahet led to the discovery of a colossal standing image of the Buddha, 7 feet 4 inches in height. The head of the image was broken and the image had an inscription reading the names of the donors of the image and name of the place ‘Shravasti’. Excavations by Jean Philippe Vogel (1871-1958) in 1908 led to the discovery of a 12th CE copper plate grant of Govinda Chandra of Kannauja. The inscription mentioned Jetavana Vihara that further established that Sahet was the correct identification of Jetavana.
King Prasenajit became a follower, an ardent supporter and regular visitor of Buddha. Ancient remains of Mahet situated east of Sahet (Jetavana) have been identified with the ancient city of Shravasti. Inside the city i.e. Mahet, Xuanzang saw a preaching hall built by king Prasenajit near his palace. Xuanzang also saw the remains of a nunnery inside the city, offered to Mahaprajapati Gotami by King Prasenajit.
Angulimala was a ruthless serial killer. His name means ‘necklace of fingers.’ He had killed 999 people and cut their fingers and made a garland out of those fingers. People of Shravasti were scared of him. Later, he came in contact with Buddha and was transformed. Xuanzang saw a stupa to mark the place where Angulimala took refuge in the Triple Gem. The ruins of Mahet now have excavated remains of two stupas, one of which is believed to be that of Angulimala. His stupa is known as Pakki Kuti, while another one, which is believed to be that of Anathapindika, is known as Kachchi Kuti.
Buddhist literature has many references of bhiksunis (nuns) and upasikas (women lay followers) who made contributions to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. But one name, whose contributions stands tallest of all, is upasika Visakha. Upasika Visakha offered a large monastery Migaramatupasada (Migara’s Mother’s terraced abode) in the Purvarama (eastern park), to the Buddha and the Sangha for their stay and practice. Buddha spent six rainy seasons here. According to Faxian, the monastery of Visakha was 6-7 Li (approximately 2 kilometres) northeast of Jetavana. Circumstantial evidence suggests ancient remains at Kandbahri village could be the remains of the Purvarama.
Shravasti is also one of the four places where Buddha performed a miracle. In the seventh year after his enlightenment, on the full moon day of Asalha (June-July) at the mango tree Gandamba, near the gate of Shravasti, the Buddha performed ‘Twin Miracle’ (Yamaka patihariya). He showed people he could produce a burning flame on the top portion of his body and water at the bottom and vice versa. He also did this on the left and right sides. It is said that he performed miracles and preached sermons for 16 days. At the conclusion of the miracle, Buddha made his way, in three strides, to Tavatimsa (Tusita Heaven), there to preach the Abhidhamma Pitaka (basket of higher doctrine) to his mother.
