Shravasti and Jetavana

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  WHAT IT IS: The city of Savatthi, known today as Shravasti, and the Jetavana monastery where the Buddha spent twenty-five rainy seasons. Tradition counts nineteen at Jetavana and six at the Pubbarama of Visakha.
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  WHY VISIT OR CHANT: This is where the Buddha gave most of his teachings, converted many disciples, and showed the great miracle and the twin miracle. Pilgrims come to sit in silence at the places where the Dhamma was first heard.
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  WHEN TO VISIT: October to March is cool and calm. Many pilgrims gather at Magha Purnima, at Buddha Purnima in Vaishakha, and at the end of the rains retreat on Pavarana.
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  WHERE: Shravasti District, northeastern Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Rapti, the ancient Aciravati. The Jetavana site is a protected archaeological park.
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  HOW:

1. 1.Enter Jetavana with a quiet mind, and remove your shoes before walking among the old brick foundations.
2. 2.At the Gandhakuti, the Buddha's hut, offer flowers and incense and recite the homage to the Triple Gem.
3. 3.Walk three times clockwise around the Anandabodhi tree.
4. 4.Meditate in silence under the trees, with the breath or with loving-kindness.
5. 5.Visit the stupas of Angulimala and Anathapindika and the site of the Twin Miracle.

Savatthi was the capital of Kosala under King Pasenadi, and the Buddha is remembered as spending more rains there than anywhere else. According to the scholar Woodward, 871 suttas in the four Nikayas are set at Savatthi. The Jetavana monastery was the second vihara offered to the Buddha, after the Veluvana at Rajagaha, and it was given by the merchant Anathapindika.

Anathapindika, whose name means the feeder of the destitute, met the Buddha and asked to build a monastery for him in his home city. He found a park belonging to Prince Jeta and offered to buy it. The prince replied that he would sell it only if the whole park were covered in gold coins. Anathapindika returned with carts of gold, and the sale was made. The place was therefore named Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Monastery, so that the generosity of both men would be remembered.

At Savatthi the Buddha gave the Maha Mangala Sutta, Sutta Nipata 2.4 and Khuddakapatha 5, and the Angulimala Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya 86. He also showed the great miracle and the twin miracle, known as the Savatthi miracles. After the twin miracle he went up to Tavatimsa, the heaven of the thirty-three gods, to teach the Abhidhamma, the systematic philosophical teachings of the Buddhist canon, to his mother.

Savatthi is also sacred to the Jain tradition, which holds that Sambhavanatha, the third Tirthankara, was born here. The shared reverence recalls how many paths have found a home on this ground.

Shravasti is linked with many of the Buddha's close followers. King Pasenadi of Kosala was a devoted lay follower, and Visakha, the foremost lay woman disciple, built the Pubbarama, also called Migaramatupasada, near the city. The Buddha is said to have dwelt by turns at Jetavana and at the Pubbarama, spending the day in one and the night in the other.

The Chinese pilgrim Faxian visited about 399 CE and described the Jetavana monastery with stupas at every place connected with the Buddha. Xuanzang later saw two tall pillars before the Jetavana ruins, one carved with a wheel and the other with a bull, and described the great stupa of Angulimala. Monasteries from Thailand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tibet, and China now stand near the site.

Devotees chant the Maha Mangala Sutta at Jetavana. A deity approached the Buddha and asked what the highest blessing was. The verses below are the first question and the opening of the Buddha's reply.

Many gods and humans have wondered about blessings, hoping for well-being. Tell us the highest blessing. Not to follow the foolish, to follow the wise, and to honor those worthy of honor, this is the highest blessing.