Kalandakanivapa, aka: Kalandaka-nivapa, Kalandakanivāpa; 4 Definition(s)

Introduction

Kalandakanivapa 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)

A woodland in Veluvana. Here food (nivapa) was regularly placed for the squirrels. It is said that once a certain raja went there for a picnic and, having over drunk, fell asleep. His retinue, seeing him sleeping, wandered away, looking for flowers and fruits. A snake, attracted by the smell of liquor, approached the king from a neighbouring tree trunk, and would have bitten him had not a tree sprite, assuming the form of a squirrel, awakened him by her chirping. In gratitude the raja gave orders that thenceforth the squirrels in that locality should be fed regularly. UdA.60; SnA.ii.419. According to some, it was the gift of a merchant named Kalandaka (Beal: Romantic Legend, p.315); Tibetan sources identify the raja with Bimbisara and say that the snake was a reincarnation of the owner whose land the king had confiscated. According to these same sources the name is Kalantaka and is described as the name of a bird (Rockhill: op. cit., p.43).

Kalandakanivapa was evidently a favourite resort of the Buddha and his monks.

See Veluvana.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Kalandakanivāpa (कलन्दकनिवाप) is the name of a field according to appendix 3 of the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXX).—Accordingly, “the Buddha Bhagavat was swelling at Rājagṛha in the Bamboo Park at Kalandakanivāpa. At that time there was a hermitage belonging to a hermit endowed with the five super-knowledges. The latter, walking near the hermitage, urinated on the muddy ground. A thirsty doe happened to come to that place; tormented by thirst, she drank the hermit’s urine and then sniffed at her own vulva. The retribution for the actions of beings is inconceivable! The doe became pregnant and later came to the same place to give birth, giving birth to a male child [later named Mṛgaśiras or ‘deer’s head’]”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geogprahy

Kalandakanivāpa (कलन्दकनिवाप) is the name of a forest situated in 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).—Kalandakanivāpa is at Rājagaha. In the Majjhima Nikāya we are told that once the Buddha dwelt in the Kalandakanivāpa at Veluvana in Rājagaha.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

kalandakanivāpa : (m.) a locality where the squirrels are fed.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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