Pataliputta, Pāṭaliputta, Pātaliputta: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Pataliputta 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)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Pataliputta: A Paribbajaka; see Potaliputta, for which it is a wrong reading.
2. The capital of Magadha and situated near the modern Patna. The Buddha visited it shortly before his death. It was then a mere village and was known as Pataligama. At that time Ajatasattus ministers, Sunidha and Vassakara, were engaged in building fortifications there in order to repel the Vajjis. The Buddha prophesied the future greatness of Pataligama, and also mentioned the danger of its destruction by fire, water, or internal discord. The gate by which the Buddha left the town was called Gotamadvara, and the ferry at which he crossed the river, Gotamatittha (Vin.i.226 30; D.ii.86ff).
The date at which Pataliputtta became the capital is uncertain. Hiouen Thsang seems to record (Beal: Records ii.85, n. 11) that it was Kalasoka who moved the seat of government there. The Jains maintain that it was Udayi, son of Ajatasattu (Vin. Texts ii.102, n. 1). The latter tradition is probably correct as, according to the Anguttara Nikaya (iii.57) even Munda is mentioned as residing at Pataliputta. It was, however, in the time of Asoka that the city enjoyed its greatest glory. In the ninth year of his reign Asokas income from the four gates of the city is said to have been four hundred thousand kahapanas daily, with another one hundred thousand for his sabha or Council (Sp.i.52).
The city was known to the Greeks as Palibothra, and Megasthenes, who spent some time there, has left a vivid description of it (Buddhist India 262f). It continued to be the capital during the greater part of the Gupta dynasty, from the fourth to the sixth century A.C. Near Pataliputta was the Kukkutarama, where monks (e.g. Ananda, Bhadda and Narada) stayed when they came to Pataliputta (M.i.349; A.v.341; A.iii.57; S.v.15f., 171f). At the suggestion of Udena Thera, the brahmin Ghotamukha built an assembly ball for the monks in the city (M.ii.163).
Pataligama was so called because on the day of its foundation several patali shoots sprouted forth from the ground. The officers of Ajatasattu and of the Licchavi princes would come from time to time to Pataligama, drive the people from their houses, and occupy them themselves. A large hall was therefore built in the middle of the village, divided into various apartments for the housing of the officers and their retainers when necessary. The Buddha arrived in the village on the day of the completion of the building, and the villagers invited him to occupy it for a night, that it might be blessed by his presence. On the next day they entertained the Buddha and his monks to a meal (Ud.viii.6; UdA.407ff).
Pataliputta was also called Pupphapura (Mhv.iv.31, etc.; Dpv.xi.28) and Kusamapura (Mbv.p.153). The journey from Jambukola, in Ceylon, to Pataliputta took fourteen days, seven of which were spent on the sea voyage to Tamalitti (E.g., Mhv.xi.24).
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).
India history and geography
Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early BuddhismPāṭaliputta (पाटलिपुत्त) or Pāṭaligāma was an ancient capital of Magadha: 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 Samantapāsādikā tells us that the missionaries who visited various places to preach the dhamma of Asoka were almost all natives of Magadha. In Asoka’s time the capital of the Magadhan kingdom was Pāṭaliputta (the older Pāṭaligāma where the ministers of Ajātasattu built a fort to repel the Vajjis). Pāli literature, however, contains numerous references to Rājagaha, the ancient capital of Magadha. In the Samanta-Pāsādikā we find that Asoka’s income from the four gates of the city of Pāṭaliputta was 400,000 kahāpaṇas daily, and in the Sabhā or Council he used to get l00,000 kahāpaṇas daily.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarypāṭaliputta : (nt.) name for a city in Magadha, (present of Patna).
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Pataliputta Peta, Pataliputtaka Brahmin.
Full-text (+45): Kusumapura, Kukkutarama, Nilavasi, Asokarama, Kunti, Kukkutarama Sutta, Phalikasandana, Vaṇippattha, Tamalitti, Pataliputta Peta, Mittinna, Ginjakavasatha, Moggali, Atthakanagara, Canndavajji, Vinjha, Devaputta, Culasamudda, Dasama, Culanagaragama.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Pataliputta, Pāṭaliputta, Pātaliputta; (plurals include: Pataliputtas, Pāṭaliputtas, Pātaliputtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Gospel of Buddha (by Paul Carus)
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka (by I. B. Horner)
The story of Sunidha and Vassakāra < [6. Medicine (Bhesajja)]
On when a robe becomes the Saṅgha’s < [8. Robes (Cīvara)]
Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (early history) (by Prakash Narayan)
Monks and Paribbajakas < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 12 - The Founding of Pāṭaliputta < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]
(Mark 28): The Mark of the Voice having Eight Qualities as a Brahmā < [Chapter 1 - The Story of Sataketu Deva, The Future Buddha]
Part 4 - The Name Amaravatī < [Chapter 1-3 - Anudīpanī on words and phrases]
A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada (by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw)
Chapter 9 - The Thera's Verdict < [Part 3]