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RELIGION
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flourishing cities like Kapilavatthu, Sávatthf,' · Kākandi, and Mākandi. Thus the jungles were
converted into royal capitals and delightful human localities.
In the instances where the Tāpasas lived all alone or with their families and resident pupils, we cannot conceive of the possibility of a corporate or congregational life. They lived more or less a domestic life in the forest paying occasional visits to the neighbouring hermitages. Occasionally they had to appear in human localities for the collecton of salt or to keep invitations from kings. The religious homes in the forests served as a meeting place of the lovers ending in marriage.
It is correctly pointed out that according to the Aranyakāņda of the Rāmāyana, Rāma, while in exile with Sītā and Lakşmana, walked from hermitage to hermitage from Ayodhyā on the Sarayū to the Pancavati on the Godavari. The Sarabhanga Jätaka also shows that in travelling from Benares to the same destination, one had to follow a ekapadikamagga or narrow foot-track under the guidance of a vanacaraka. But when Bāvari built his hermitage near the Pañcavati during the reign of Pasenadi, there came into existence a high road connecting
i Sir Asutosh Mookerji Silver Jubilee Folums, ui, p. 412 2 Jataka, v, p. 132.
