Veluvana, Veluvaṇa, Velu-vana: 4 definitions

Introduction:

Veluvana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Names

1. Veluvana. A park near Rajagaha, the pleasure garden of Bimbisara. When the Buddha first visited Rajagaha, after his Enlightenment, he stayed at the Latthivanuyyana (Vin.i.35). The day after his arrival, he accepted the kings invitation to a meal at the palace, at the end of which the king, seeking a place for the Buddha to live not too far from the town, not too near, suitable for coming and going, easily accessible to all people, by day not too crowded, by night not exposed to noise and clamour, clean of the smell of people, hidden from men and well fitted to seclusion decided on Veluvana, and bestowed it on the Buddha and the fraternity. This was the first arama accepted by the Buddha, and a rule was passed allowing monks to accept such an arama. Vin.i.39f.; according to BuA. (19; cf. ApA.i.75) the earth trembled when the water - poured over the Buddhas hand by Bimbisara in dedication of Veluvana - fell on the earth. This was the only arama in Jambudipa, the dedication of which was accompanied by a tremor of the earth. It was the dedication of Veluvana which was quoted as precedent by Mahinda, when he decided to accept the Mahameghavana, at Anuradhapura, from Devanampiyatissa (Mhv.xv.17).

The Buddha at once went to stay there, and it was during this stay that Sariputta and Moggallana joined the Order. Vin.i.42.

Kalandakanivapa (q.v.) is the place nearly always mentioned as the spot where the Buddha stayed in Veluvana. There many Vinaya rules were passed - e.g., on the keeping of the vassa (Vin.i.137), the use of food cooked in the monastery (Vin.i.210f), the picking of edible (kappiya) fruit in the absence of any layman from whom permission to do so could be obtained (Vin.i.212), surgical operations on monks (Vin.i.215f), the eating of sugar (Vin.i.226), the rubbing of various parts of the body against wood (Vin.ii.105), the use of the kinds of dwelling (Vin.ii.146) and the use of gold and silver (Vin.ii.196).

During the Buddhas stay at Veluvana, Dabba Mallaputta, at his own request, was appointed regulator of lodgings and apportioner of rations, (Vin.ii.74. The Buddha was at Veluvana when Dabba also decided to die. He went there to take leave of the Buddha, Ud.viii.9) and Sariputta and Moggallana brought back the five hundred monks whom Devadatta had enticed away to Gayasisa (Vin.ii.200). The Buddha spent the second, third, and fourth vassas at Veluvana. BuA.3; it was while the Buddha was at Veluvana that Devadatta attempted to kill him by causing Nalagiri to be let loose against him (J.v.335). It was a very peaceful place, and monks, who had taken part in the first Convocation, rested there, in Kalandakanivapa, after their exertions. It was there that they met Purana, who refused to acknowledge the authenticity of their Recital (Vin.ii.289f).

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

Source: archive.org: Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1963

1) Veluvaṇa or Veluvaṇavihāra is the name of an ancient locality that existed since the ancient kingdom of Anurādhapura, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).—Veluvaṇa-vihāra, also called Velunnā-vehera, in Gangaviṭa or Gaganāviṭa, was built by Aggabodhi II (604-614) and made over to the Sāgali sect. King Saṃghatissa defeated in battle east of Anurādhapura, went to Veluvaṇa-vihāra where he assumed a monk’s robes: he was proceeding thence to cross the Mahavali-Gaṅga and escape into Rohaṇa when he was detected and seized at Miṇṇeriya. It is clear, therefore, that Veluvaṇa-vihāra was westward of Miṇṇeriya and probably in Māṭombuva Korale. In the inscription of Mahinda IV (956-972)at Abhayagiri-vihāra, it is stated that he repaired the pāsāda at Viluvana-vihāra. Jeṭṭhatissa III (628) granted the Vihāra the village Kakkhalaviṭṭhi.

2) Veluvana or Veluvanavihāra is the name of an ancient building that once existed near Polonnaruva (Polonnaruwa), Ceylon (Sri Lanka).—Parakkamabāhu I also built:—(i) Kapila or Kapilavastu-vihāra; (ii) Dakṣiṇārāma; (iii) Pacchimārāma; (iv) the Suluvādenige of gold; (v) Purvārāma; (vi) Atubadalena-vihāra; (vii) Isipatana-vihāra in the Rājavesibhujaṅga suburb; (viii) Kusinārā-vihāra in the Sīhapura suburb; (ix) Veluvana-vihāra in the Vijita suburb; and (x) between the Palace and the 3 suburbs, at each gāvuta (about 2miles), a vihāra with Sermon and Image Houses.

Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early Buddhism

Veluvana (वेलुवन) 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).—Veluvana is at Rājagaha.

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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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Veluvana (वेलुवन).—see Veṇu°.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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