some contemporaries of Buddha

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http://www.mangalavihara.org.sg/bpc/canda_pajjota_of_avanti.doc

 

Canda Pajjota of Avanti

Canda Pajjota was a powerful king of Avanti during the time of

Buddha. Neighbouring kings were afraid of him. He was said to have

imprisoned King of Vatsa, waged war

against King Pukkusati of Gandhara and Ajatasattu had to fortify

Rajagaha against invasion. When Mahakaccayana's father passed away,

he became Pajjota's royal chaplain. Pajjota sent Mahakaccayan and

seven others to invite Buddha to Avanti so that the king could

worship Him and hear the Dhamma. After listening to discourses, all

of them became monks and attained arahantship. Buddha did not go to

Avanti but instead asked them to establish Buddhism there and satisfy

the king. Canda Pajjota became a lay Buddhist devotee after

discourses given by Mahakaccayana. Under his royal patronage,

Mahakaccayana converted many to Buddhism and established several

monasteries.

 

The king, a devoted Buddhist; was helped by Mahakaccayana in his

various religious works. A zealous patron, he offered valuable gifts

to the Sangha.

 

 

Udena of Vatsa

Udena was king of Vatsa with the capital at Kosambi. His queen,

Samavati, was a great devotee of the Buddha and played a role in

popularizing Buddhism in Vatsa. Her conversion to Buddhism was by

Khujjuttara, her hunchbacked female attendant. Udena's other wife,

Magandiya enraged by Buddha's rejection of her; plotted against

Samavati and eventually burnt Samavati's residence, killing Samavati

and her attendants. Magandiya and her accomplices were executed by

the king.

 

Venerable Pindola Bharadvaja converted King Udena to Buddhism.

Initially, the king was not happy with the venerable and was said to

have tortured him by putting him in a nest of brown ants. Once his

became a Buddhist convert, he had long discussions with Pindola on

religious matters. The king gave meals daily to monks at his palace,

constructed several monasteries. Due to the king's generous

patronage, Kosambi became a great center of Buddhism.

 

 

Pukkusati of Gandhara

King Pukkusati was a contemporary of Buddha. He had his capital at

Taxila and was on friendly terms with King Bimbisara of Magadha.

Bimbisara sent Jivaka to Taxila for his medical education and helped

when Canda Pajjota waged war against Pukkusati.

Bimbisara sent his friend an inscribed golden plate with descriptions

of the Triple gem and various tenets of Buddha's teachings. After

reading the inscriptions, Pukkusati became a Buddhist monk and went

to Rajagaha to pay respect to Buddha.

 

 

Sakyans of Kapilavattu

A republican clan with the capital at Kapilavattu, was a vassal of

King Pasenadi of Kosala. When Suddhodana heard that his son had

attained enlightenment, he sent several messengers to invite Buddha

to return to the kingdom. They became monks, attained enlightenment

and did not return. It was Buddha's childhood friend, Kaludayi, now a

minister, who invited the Buddha back to his hometown. Strongly

Brahmanic in beliefs, the Sakyans could not bring themselves to

receive the Buddha when they saw Him in monk's robes. Even the king

was said to have turned back to the palace on hearing of Buddha's

attire. It was after a miraculous display that the Sakyans prostrated

themselves before Buddha and Sangha.

 

As there was no official invitation to the palace, Buddha and the

sangha members went from door to door for their alms. This upset King

Suddhodana as it was not befitting for son of a king to do so. Buddha

then replied that begging was worthy of the lineage of Buddhas who

lived on alms. Buddha delivered a discourse to his father who became

a lay devotee. He then invited Buddha and the sangha to the palace

for a meal. All members of Sakyan family paid homage to the Buddha.

After listening to discourses, many Sakyans converted from Brahmanism

to Buddhism. Buddha's return to Kapilavatthu was preserved in stone

on the eastern gate of Stupa I of Sanchi.

 

Buddha offered Nanda his alms bowl at his wedding ceremony. In order

to please Buddha, Nanda became a monk. Yasodhara urged her young son,

Rahula to ask for inheritance from his father. Buddha offered the

inheritance of holy life to Rahula who was ordained by Sariputta.

 

King Suddhodana was upset with the ordination of Nanda and Rahula,

and requested that those who wished to ordain must obtain permission

from their parents first. This was granted and a rule was framed to

this effect. Many of Buddha's relatives and Sakyans joined the Order.

The 5 Sakyan princes (Bhaddiya, Anuruddha, Ananda, Bhagu, Kimbila,

Devadatta) and Upali the barber were ordained at the Anupiya grove.

 

King Suddhodana attained arahantship just before he passed away. Once

the king died, Queen Mahapajapati Gotami wanted to join the order.

Many other ladies of Kapilavatthu accompanied her. It was only in

Vesali that Buddha agreed that they could join the order if they

abide by the eight strict rules (attha garudhamma). Yasodhara was

amongst the many Sakyan ladies who joined the newly formed order of

nuns.

 

Within a very short time, Kapilavatthu became a great center of

Buddhism. Many monasteries were built. Persons of non-Buddhistic

religious order had to pass through a probationary period (Parivasa)

for 4 months. Buddha allowed the Sakyans of non- Buddhistic sects and

Jatilas to join the order without going through this probationary

period.

 

 

Koliyas of Ramagama and Devadaha

Koliyas, a republican clan had 2 chief settlements in Ramagama and

Devadaha. The Kunala Jataka related that they were called Koliyas as

they live in the Kola trees. The Sakyans and Koliyas were divided by

the River Rohini, which served as a boundary. Once, they quarreled

over the use of water to irrigate the fields. They nearly came to

blows and were stopped by the Buddha. After hearing the discourse,

many young men from both sides joined the Order.

Buddha was related to the Koliyans through his mother and wife. The

Koliyans

were close to him and it was easy for Him to convert them to

Buddhism. Many prominent Koliyans from the various Koliyan towns were

converted to Buddhism. Suppavasa Koliyadhita, daughter of the king of

Koliya, was said to have an easy delivery for her prolonged pregnancy

after Buddha showered blessings on her. She and her husband became

lay followers.

 

After the demise of the Buddha, the Koliyans obtained a share of his

relics and erected a stupa over it.

 

 

Licchavis

Licchavis formed part of the powerful Vajjian confederacy. The

capital was Vesali, an opulent, prosperous town with thousands of

storeyed buildings, parks and lotus ponds. Well known for their

unity, strength and republican constitution, they were followers of

Brahmanism and Jainism.

 

After Buddha defeated Saccaka, follower of Nigantha Nataputta, the

Licchavis became devotees of the Buddha. Conversion of renowned

personalities, like Siha, a military general; and Dttaddha, a

nobleman to Buddhism had a great impact on the Licchavis.

 

The Licchavis offered hundreds of robes to the Sangha after hearing a

sermon from the monk, Pingiyani. Many Licchavis joined the order and

attained arahantship. Siha, niece of the Licchavi military general

and Jenta from a princely family gained enlightenment.

Vasetthi upset by her son's death acquired insight on listening to

Buddha's discourses. Courtesan Ambapali bored King Bimbisara a son,

Vimala Kondanna who entered the Sangha and became an arahant. He

preached a sermon, which helped his mother to develop insight and

attain arahantship. She offered her extensive mango grove to the

Buddha and Sangha.

 

Several monasteries were built. Buddha had mentioned that Vesali was

a delightful spot with many shrines (Udena shrine; Gotamaka shrine;

shrine of the 7 mangoes; shrine of many sons, Sarandada shrine;the

Capala shrine.) Buddha and his chief disciples spent many days in

meditation at Gosingasalavana.

 

On one occasion, Buddha was invited to Vesali to get rid of

pestilence. He chanted the Ratana Sutta and the city became freed of

the epidemic. Buddhism was well established under the Licchavis.

 

 

Mallas

Mallas had 2 confederacies, one at Kusinara and the other at Pava.

Kusinara was famous as it was the site of Buddha's Mahaparinibbana.

Malla Roja initially opposed Buddhism, later accepted him after he

heard the Buddha's discourses. Dabba Mallaputta was the regulator of

lodging places and distributor of rations. Tapussa was another lay

follower. Siha and Khandasumana joined the order and attained

arahantship. The Mallas constructed a hall called Ubbhataka for the

Buddha and the Sangha.

 

Buddha accompanied by 500 disciples paid his visit to Pava and stayed

at the Mango grove of Cunda, the smith. He fell ill after he took a

meal, but proceeded onto Kusinara where the Mallas with their

families flocked to pay their last homage to the Buddha. They later

carried His body to Makuta Bandhana Shrine for cremation and treated

the body like one treats the King of kings. After the cremation, they

carried the remains to Ubbhataka and honored them with dance, songs,

and offerings of garlands and perfumes. This was seen in one of the

stone sculptures of the Western Gate of Stupa I of Sanchi.

 

The reliefs of Sanchi also showed the advancement of 7 claimants to

capture the city of Kusinara to have a share of the Buddha's relics.

The siege of the city and their departure with their share of relics,

show how the Buddha was honored and respected by them. Each of them

built stupas over the relics of the Buddha and venerated them.

 

 

Bhaggas

They settled in a territory between Savatthi and Vesali.

Sumsumaragiri (Crocodile Hill) was their capital. Buddha and his

chief disciple, Maha Moggallana visited the Bhagga country on several

occasions. After listening to Buddha's discourse at his newly built

palace, Bodhirajakumara, the ruler became a devout Buddhist.

 

Nakulamata, Nakulapia, Sirimanda, Sigalapita were prominent Bhaggas

who embraced Buddhism.

 

The Bhaggas also demanded a share of the relics of the Buddha and

built a stupa over the relics.

 

 

Bulis of Allakappa, Moriyas of Pipphalivana and Kalamas of Kesaputta

They were followers of the Buddha. Each of them claimed a share of

the bodily remains of the Buddha. Dona, the famous Brahmana who

distributed the Buddha's relics at Kusinara was from Allakappa. The

Kalamas of Kesaputta were the clan of the famous teacher of the

Buddha, Alara Kalama.

 

 

Royal patronage was one of the most important contributing factors,

which helped Buddhism to take root in Northern India in 6th century

BC.

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 The   Arya-Manjusri-M. ulakalpa, 

(MMK) mentions the following kings being the contemporaries of Buddha :

^ " (!) Prasenajitof Kosala,

(2-3) King Bimbisara and another,

(4) U d a y a n a, the best of the

Kshatriyas, son of a t a n I k a.

(5) (*) Subahu,

(b) Sudhanu (T.) Sudhana (S.),

© Mahendra,

(d) Cham as a (T.), Chandrasama (S.),

(e) S i m h a, of the L i c h c h h a

v i s at Vaisall ('from the Sakya family', T. )

(6) Udavi (Udayi), (Varshadhara, T.)

(7) Vidyota Pradyota (T.) 'Vidyota Mudyota*

(S.), 'the Mahasena', at

Ujjayani, also 'Cbanda'.

(8) Raja Suddhodana ait the capital Kapila,

entitled 'the Virat' (president

of a vairajya republic), 'very

powerful* (348).

These were contemporaries of

Sakyasimha Buddha, all Kshatriyas, all who had come

in personal contact with the Buddha and

respected his teachings " (349 352).

(9) A j a t a [is again mentioned after

the group in verse 353 as if by a footnote.]

Comments

The group of No. 5 seems to consist of

Lichchhavi rulers.

They were not descendants of Ajatasatru,

as wrongly supposed by Taranatha

(J. B. O. R. S., I, 79). The description

of No. 8 is noteworthy.

Although he is the father of the Buddha

he comes last. Probably they

are given in order of political and constitutional

importance.

U d a y a n a, son of Satanika (of Kausambi)

is described as being

of the best Kshatriya family amongst his

contemporaries (kshatriyasreshthah)

, which confirms Bhasa. The Lichchhavis

are also

stated as Kshatriyas,

and connected with the Sakyas.http://ia331335.us.archive.org/3/items/imperialhistoryo035289mbp/imperialhistoryo035289mbp.pdf