Indasalaguha, Indasālaguhā: 1 definition

Introduction:

Indasalaguha means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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»] — Indasalaguha in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A cave on the Vediya mountain, to the north of Ambasanda, which was a brahmin village, east of Rajagaha. Once, when the Buddha was staying there, Sakka visited him and asked him the questions recorded in the Sakkapanha Sutta (D.ii.263).

Buddhaghosa says (DA.iii.697) that the cave lay between two overhanging rocks, with a large sala tree at the entrance. The village community had added walls with doors and windows and had ornamented it with polished plaster scroll work and garlands and had presented it to the Buddha.

In Fa Hsiens time (Giles, 48f), it was still inhabited and he describes it as being one yojana north east of Nalanda. Hiouen Thsang, however, found it deserted. He calls it Indraka saila guha (Beal ii.180-1).

Both pilgrims noticed marks on the rock; according to Fa Hsien they were the answers to Sakkas questions written by the Buddha with his finger, while Hiouen Thsang says that both questions and answers were written on the stone.

The cave is identified with one about two miles to the south west of the modern village of Giriyek. (CAGI. 539ff; Stein, Ind. Antiq. 1901, p.54).

It is said that on the occasion of the preaching of the Sakkapanha Sutta, eight hundred million devas realised the Truth (Mil.349).

See also Somanassa (3).

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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