Sumsumaragiri, Sumsumāragiri, Suṃsumāragiri, Sumsumara-giri: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Sumsumaragiri means something in Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Sumsumaragiri in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A city in the Bhagga country, of which it was probably the capital (See, e.g., Sp.iv.862). The Buddha spent the eighth vassa there (BuA.3). Near the city was the Bhesakalavana where the Buddha stayed.

During his visits there he preached the Anumana Sutta (M.i.95f ) and the Bodhiraja Sutta (M.ii.91f). The city was the residence of Nakulapita and his wife, with whom the Buddha had several interviews. (E.g., A.ii.61; iii.295 f; iv.268; S.iii.1; iv.116).

It is said that once, when the Buddha was at Sumsumaragiri, he saw with his divine eye Moggallana at Kallavalamutta half asleep, and appeared before him and admonished him (A.iv.85).

On another occasion, he saw Anuruddha in the Veluvana in the Ceti country, pondering over the seven Mahapurisavitakkas, and appeared before him to encourage him (A.iv.228f). Both incidents show that the Buddha visited Sumsumaragiri quite early in his career, in the first year after the Enlightenment. Moggallana also stayed in Sumsumaragiri, and there Mara is said to have entered his stomach and to have given him trouble (M.i.332f.; cf. Thag.vs.1208).

Sumsumaragiri was the birthplace of Sirimanda Thera (ThagA.i.462) and the scene of the meditations of Singalakapita.

Several Vinaya rules were passed during the Buddhas stay at Sumsumaragiri (Vin.ii.127; iv.115f; 198f).

The Dhonasakha Jataka was preached there (J.iii.157f). Prince Bodhi, the governor of the Bhagga country, evidently lived in Sumsumaragiri, and it was there that he had his famous palace, called Kokanada.

It is said (MA.i.292; SA.ii.181) that the city was so called because when it was being built a crocodile (sumsumara) made a noise in a lake near by.

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).

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India history and geography

[«previous next»] — Sumsumaragiri in India history glossary
Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early Buddhism

Suṃsumāragiri (सुंसुमारगिरि) was an ancient city in Bhagga or Bharga was an ancient state dependent of Vatsa or Vaṃsa: one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas of the Majjhimadesa (Middle Country) of ancient India, as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—The kingdom of the Vaṃsas or Vatsas is mentioned in the Aṅguttara Nikāya as one of the sixteen great countries of India. The Bhagga (i.e. Bharga) state of Suṃsumāragiri was a dependency of the Vatsa kingdom (Jātaka No. 353). This is confirmed by the Mahābhārata and the Harivaṇśa which testify to the close association of these two realms.

The Bhaggas of Suṃsumāragiri (Suṃsumāra hill) have frequently been referred to in Pāli literature. Suṃsumāra Hill was doubtless the capital of the Bhagga country. There can also be no doubt about the fact that it was used as a fort. We know that in the lifetime of the Buddha, Prince Bodhi, son of King Udena of Kosambī, ruled over the Bhaggas as his father’s viceroy. Bodhi became one of the followers of the Buddha. But the Bhagga country was really a republican country, for it is mentioned in the list of the republican clans in the Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta. It may be that the Bhaggas were temporarily under the sway of Kosambī.

India history book cover
context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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