Savatthi, Sāvatthī, Sāvatthi: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Savatthi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 NamesThe capital town of Kosala in India and one of the six great Indian cities during the lifetime of the Buddha (D.ii.147). It was six leagues from Saketa (Vin.i.253; seven according to others, DhA.i.387), forty five leagues north west of Rajagaha (SA.i.243), thirty leagues from Sankassa (J.iv.265), one hundred and forty seven from Takkasila (MA.ii.987), one hundred and twenty from Supparaka (DhA.ii.213), and was on the banks of the Aciravati (Vin.i.191, 293). It was thirty leagues from Alavi (SNA.i.220), thirty from Macchikasanda (DhA.ii.79), one hundred and twenty from Kukkutavati (DhA.ii.118), and the same distance from Uggapura (DhA.iii.469) and from Kuraraghara (DhA.iv.106). The road from Rajagaha to Savatthi passed through Vesali (Vin.ii.159f), and the Parayanavagga (SN.vss.1011 13) gives the resting places between the two cities Setavya, Kapilavatthu, Kusinara, Pava and Bhoganagara. Further on, there was a road running southwards from Savatthi through Saketa to Kosambi. One gavuta from the city was the Andhavana (q.v.). Between Saketa and Savatthi was Toranavatthu (S.iv.374).
The city was called Savatthi because the sage Savattha lived there. Another tradition says there was a caravanserai there, and people meeting there asked each other what they had Kim bhandam atthi? Sabbam atthi and the name of the city was based on the reply (SNA.i.300; PSA. 367).
The Buddha passed the greater part of his monastic life in Savatthi. His first visit there was at the invitation of Anathapindika. It is said (DhA.i.4) that he spent twenty five rainy seasons in the city nineteen of them in Jetavana and six in the Pubbarama. Savatthi also contained the monastery of Rajakarama (q.v.), built by Pasenadi, opposite Jetavana. Outside the city gate of Savatthi was a fishermans village of five hundred families (DhA.iv.40).
Savatthi is the scene of each Buddhas Yamaka patihariya (DhA.iii.205; cf. Mtu.iii.115; J.i.88); Gotama Buddha performed this miracle under the Gandamba (q.v.).
The chief patrons of the Buddha in Savatthi were Anathapindika, Visakha, Suppavasa and Pasenadi (DhA.i.330). When Bandhula (q.v.) left Vesali he came to live in Savatthi.
Buddhaghosa says (Sp.iii.614) that, in the Buddhas day, there were fifty seven thousand families in Savatthi, and that it was the chief city in the country of Kasi Kosala, which was three hundred leagues in extent and had eighty thousand villages. The population of Savatthi was eighteen crores (SNA.i.371).
Savatthi is identified with Sahet Mahet on the banks of the Rapti (Cunningham, AGI. 469).
Hiouen Thsang found the old city in ruins, but records the sites of various buildings (Beal, op. cit., ii.1 13).
Woodward states (KS.v.xviii ) that, of the four Nikayas,
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).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: HereNow4u: Lord Śrī MahāvīraSāvatthī (सावत्थी) is the name of a village visited by Mahāvīra during his fifth year of spiritual-exertion.—Leaving Kayaṅgalā, he arrived at Sāvatthī, and stood in meditation outside the city. It was biting cold in winter. Yet, not caring about the cold, the Lord remained in meditation through the night. In the morning, Mahāvīra left for Śrāvastī.
Sāvatthī was also visited by Mahāvīra during his eleventh year of spiritual-exertion and also during his 11th and 19th Year as Kevalī.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Geography in Ancient Indian inscriptionsAccording to Buddhaghosa, Sāvatthi was so called because here the sage Sāvattha lived. According to Papañcasūdāni, however, the city was so called as it contained everything required by human being. But according to the Viṣṇu-puraṇa version, it was founded by a king of the solar race after his name. Śrāvastī, the Candrikāpurī of the Jainas, was sacred to them, being the birth-place of the third tīrthāṅkara Candraprabhānātha. Harṣacarita (Chapter V) mentions Śrutavarmā, the ruler of Śrāvastī. Fa-hien and Hiuen-tsang have also noticed this place in the fifth and the seventh centuries A.D.
Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early BuddhismSāvatthī was the capital of Kosala: 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 Buddha spent much of his time at Sāvatthī, the capital of Kosala, and most of his sermons were delivered there. The story of the conversion of the Kosalans to the Buddhist faith is related in some detail. In course of his journey over northern India, Buddha reached Kosala and went to Sāsā, a Brāhmaṇa village of Kosala. There the Buddha delivered a series of sermons and the Brahmin householders were converted to the new faith.
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 Dictionarysāvatthī : (f.) name of the metropolis of the Kingdom of Kosala.
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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionarySāvatthī (सावत्थी) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Śrāvastī.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Savatthiga.
Ends with: Thusavatthi, Vanasavatthi.
Full-text (+382): Shravasti, Saketa, Koshala, Kosalanagara, Pandupura, Pubbarama, Kanamata, Patipatti Sutta, Setthiputta Petavatthu, Savattha, Mahethi, Manithunavimana, Nalakaragama, Toranavatthu, Vanka, Jetavanna Grove, Asamapekkhana Sutta, Katthavahananagara, Veranjaka Sutta, Pancala.
Relevant text
Search found 52 books and stories containing Savatthi, Sāvatthī, Sāvatthi; (plurals include: Savatthis, Sāvatthīs, Sāvatthis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Biography (15): Kaṅkhā Revata Mahāthera < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]
Part 4 - Righteous (Dhammavādi) and Unrighteous (Adhammavādi) < [Chapter 28 - The Buddha’s Tenth Vassa at Pālileyyaka Forest]
Biography (39): Sāgata Mahāthera < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]
Guide to Tipitaka (by U Ko Lay)
Part III - Opamma Vagga < [(a) Mulapannasa Pali]
Part II - Bhikkhu Vagga < [(b) Majjihma Pannasa Pali]
Part II - Sihanada Vagga < [(a) Mulapannasa Pali]
Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (early history) (by Prakash Narayan)
Gahapatis and Brahmanas < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
Gahapatis and Kings < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
The king’s services < [Chapter 2 - Economic and Urban Processes]
The Gospel of Buddha (by Paul Carus)
The Book of Protection (by Piyadassi Thera)
Discourse 5 - Protection Of The Aggregates < [Discourses]
Discourse 10 - The Sun Deity's Prayer For Protection < [Discourses]
Appendix 1 - Protective Discourse To Angulimala < [Appendix]
Vinaya Pitaka (4): Parivara (by I. B. Horner)
Nuns’ Analysis: on Laying-down-Where (Pācittiya) < [2.1. Nuns’ Analysis: on Laying-down-Where]
Monks’ Analysis: on the Laying-Down-Where (Nissaggiya Pācittiya) < [1.1. Monks’ Analysis: on the Laying-Down-Where]
Nuns’ Analysis: on Laying-down-Where (Saṅghādisesa) < [2.1. Nuns’ Analysis: on Laying-down-Where]