In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A banyan tree which is famous in Buddhist literature. It was in Uruvela, on the banks of the Neranjara, near the Bodhi tree, and a week after the Enlightenment the Buddha went there and spent a week cross legged at the foot of the tree. There he met the Huhunkajatika Brahmin (Vin.i.2-3). Two weeks later he went there again from the Rajayatana (Vin.i.4). It was then that the Brahma Sahampati appeared to him and persuaded him to preach the doctrine, in spite of the difficulty of the task (Vin.i.5-7; in the eighth week after the Enlightenment, says Buddhaghosa, SA.i.152). This was immediately after the meal offered by Tapassu and Bhalluka, so says the Majjhima Atthakatha (i.385; J.i.81). When the Buddha wishes to have someone as his teacher, Sahampati appears again and suggests to him that the Dhamma be considered his teacher (A.ii.20f.; S.i.138f).

By Ajapala nigrodha it was, too, that, immediately after the Enlightenment, Mara tried to persuade the Buddha to die at once (D.ii.112). Several other conversations held here with Mara are recorded in the Samyutta (S.i.103f).

Here, also, the Buddha spent some time before the Enlightenment (D.ii.267), and it was here that Sujata offered him a meal of milk rice (J.i.16, 69).

Here, in the fifth week after the Enlightenment, Maras daughters tried to tempt the Buddha (J.i.78, 469).

Several etymologies are suggested for the name: (a) in its shadow goatherds (ajapala) rest; (b) old brahmins, incapable of reciting the Vedas, live here in dwellings protected by walls and ramparts (this derivation being as follows: na japanti ti =ajapa, mantanam anajjhayaka=ajapa, alenti ariyanti nivasam etthati=Ajapalo ti); (c) it shelters the goats that seek its shade at midday (UdA.51). The northern Buddhists say that the tree was planted by a shepherd boy, during the Bodhisattas six years penance, to shelter him (Beal, Romantic Legend of Buddha,192, 238; Mtu.iii.302).

The Brahma Sutta (S.v.167) and the Magga Sutta (S.v.185), both on the four satipatthana, and another Brahma Sutta (S.v.232f) on the five indriyani, were concerning thoughts that occurred to the Buddha on various occasions at the foot of this tree, when he sat there soon after the Enlightenment. On all these occasions Brahma Sahampati appeared to him and confirmed his thoughts. Several old brahmins, advanced in years, visited the Buddha during this period and questioned him as to whether it were true that he did not pay respect to age. To them he preached the four Thera karana dhamma. A.ii.22.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Nigrodha, Ajapala.

Full-text: Tanha, Pancagaru Jataka, Magga Sutta, Neranjara.

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