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Śramaņa, Vol 60, No. 1/January-March 2009
Utpalavarņā, the chief female disciple of Buddha, was assaulted and raped in Andhavana by some mischievous persons. Listening this incident, Lord Buddha suggested king Prasenajita to erecta nunnery where the nuns could dwelt with safety. The Samyutta Nikaya gives, however, another story according to which some hereties wanted to build up a monastery for themselves near Jetavana. Lord Buddha used to stay there off and on. While staying at Jetavana, the Buddha heard the great uproar which the heretics were making in the preparation of building. Lord Buddha sent Ananda and Sāriputra to suggest the king Prasenajita to stop it. But the king of Kośala refused to comply with the message. Then the Buddha went himself and preached him. Filled with remorse and realizing that he had never built a monastery, king Prasenajita began to construct Rājakārāma. This nunnery was situated just opposite to Jetavana. Andhavana was another proper place where the Buddhist monks and nuns used to stay. There was also a meditation hall (481 ) where monks and nuns used to contemplate. Some prominent nuns like Alavikā, Somā, Krşāgautami, Vijayā, Utpalavarņā, Cālā, Upacālā, Vajirā etc. are referred to in the commentary of Therīgāthā residing here.
Śrāvasti really occupied a prominent place in the Buddhist tradition. It was the place of Anāthapiņdaka and Viśākhā, the most prominent figures of Buddhist tradition. It was the place where Angulimālya who wanted to kill Gautama Buddha, gave up his heresy: More over, it was the place where Bhikṣuni - samgha came into existence for the first time. According to the Mahāsánghika tradition, when Gautama Buddha was staying at Jetavana in Srāvasti, Ananda got the permission of Lord for the ordination of Mahāprajāpati Gautami and other women. This place became the part of history as we hear that
about one thousand years after the Nirvāṇaof Lord Buddha, the Chinese pilgrim Fa-hian saw "The ruined Vihāra of Mahāpıajāpati in Śrāvastī." After about two century, another Chinese pilgrim Huentsang visited this pious city. But till this period, the city had been deserted and ruined. He is referred to as saying "These ruins represent the great hall of the law which king Prasenajita built for Buddha. By the side of this hall, not far from it, above the ruins, a stūpa is built. This is where stood the Vihāra which king Prasenajita built for Prajāpati Bhikkhunī, the maternal aunt of Buddha.' The existence of the Bhikṣuṇī-vihāra in Śrāvasti is supported by the Mahasanghika Bhikṣuṇivinaya too. It mentions several nunneries built in Śrāvastī. It depicts that Vihāra had several rooms and each individual room was called Pariveņa, Pariveņa is meant a cell or a private chamber for a monk or a nun.“ As the Jaina Centre
Like Buddhism, Śrāvastī holds an unique place in the history of Jaina tradition. It has been called the Ārya Kșetra and the capital of Kuņālā or Kuņālā country. Śrāvastī was associated with Jaina religion since time immemorial. Several Jaina Tirthankaras are shown closely attached to this place. It is said that Sambhavanātha, third Tīrthankara, broke his first fast in this town by accepting food from lay-votary Surindradatta. According to Uttarādhyayana Niryukti, the twentieth Tirthankara, Muni Suvrata, had visited this place and initiated the members of royal family. Tirthankara Pārsva, too, is said to have visited this city and inspired several women like Kāli, Padmā, Śivā etc. for the initiation as mentioned in the Iñātādharmakathā.' Lord Mahāvīra is also said to have visited this city several times and initiated many persons. He also spent his tenth rainy season here before being omniscient.
