• Bhesakalāvana

A grove in the Bhagga country. It contained a Deer Park wherein the Buddha stayed, on Sumsumāragiri. Near by was the house in which lived Nakulapitā and Nakhulamātā (A.ii.61; iii.295; S. iii.1; iv.116).

Once, when the Buddha was at Bhesakalāvana, he saw, with his divine eye, Anuruddha dwelling in the Pācīnavamsadāya in the Ceti country, and appeared before him to encourage him in his meditations (A.iv.228ff.; J. iii.157).

The palace Kokanada, built for Prince Bodhi, was in the neighbourhood of the grove (Vin.ii.127; DhA.iii.134, etc.).

It was while staying in this grove that Mahā Moggallāna was molested by Māra and he preached the Māratajjaniya Sutta (M.i.332).

Singālapitā is said to have retired to Bhesakalāvana for his meditations (ThagA.ii.70).

The grove received its name from the fact that its presiding spirit was a Yakkhinī called Bhesākalā (SA.ii.181).

According to the Buddhavamsa Commentary (BuA.3), the Buddha spent the eight vassa at Bhesakalāvana.

The Divyāvadāna calls it Bhīsanikāvana. Dvy.182.