• Arunavatī (Sutta)

1. Arunavatī. The city and the country of King Arunavā, and the birthplace of Sikhī Buddha (Bu.xxi.15). It was from there that Sikhī and Abhibhū went to the Brahma-world to preach to Brahma and his attendants (S.i.155f). At that time Salalapupphiya Thera was a confectioner in Arunavatī (Ap.i.218). See also Arunapura.

2. Arunavatī. A vihāra in the village of Itthakāvatī in Magadha. Sāriputta once lived there (PvA.67).

Arunavatī Sutta. Records the incident of the visit of Abhibhū to the Brahma-world (S.i.154f., etc.; see Abhibhū 1). Abhibhū chose as his theme action and energy, and the verses he uttered on that occasion, beginning "ārabhatha, nikkhamatha, yuñjatha buddhasāsane" are often quoted.

Buddhaghosa says (SA.i.172-3) that Abhibhū chose this theme out of all the doctrines to be found in the Tipitaka because he knew that the subject would commend itself to all his hearers, human and non-human.

Milakkhatissa Thera of Ceylon, hearing a novice in Pācīnapabbata recite the Arunavatī Sutta, listened to the stanzas, and feeling that they had been preached to encourage zealous monks like himself, he exerted himself and became an anāgāmī. Soon afterwards he became an arahant (AA.i.21-2).

The sutta is said to have been preached by the Buddha on the full moon day of Jetthamāsa (AA.i.436).