Place names

This page lists place names at the time of the Buddha and place names that apply to it today (if known).
Old name Name now Description
ALAVI This is where the meeting took place between the Buddha and the yakkha Alavaka. See Snp1-10.
ALLAKAPPA See e.g. D16.
AMBAGAMA See e.g. D16.
AMBALATTHIKA See e.g. D16.
ANDHAPURA See e.g. J003.
APANA See e.g. Snp3-07.
ATUMA See e.g. D16.
BELUVA See e.g. D16.
BHADDIYA Birthplace of Visakha.
BHANDAGAMA See e.g. D16.
BHOGANAGARA The 'city of opulence'. See e.g. D16; Snp5-00.
CAMPA See e.g. D16.
DEVADAHA Parental residence of Queen Maha Maya. See e.g. Div009.
EKANALA See e.g. Snp1-04.
GAYA Gaya? Place near Uruvela (Bodh Gaya). See e.g. Snp2-05; S35-028.
GONADDHA See e.g. Snp5-00.
HALIDDAVASANA Town in Koliya. see a.o. M057.
HATTHIGAMA See e.g. D16.
ICCHANAGALA See e.g. Snp3-09.
ISIPATANA Sarnath Place where the Buddha first proclaimed the Four Noble Truths. Near Varanasi (Benares). See S56-011.
JAMBUGAMA See e.g. D16.
KAKKARAPATTA A market town of the Koliya's.
KAMMASADHAMMA Market town of the Kurus. Kammasadhamma was, according to some students, in the vicinity of the current Delhi.
KAPILAVATTHU Kapilavatthu Capital of the Sakyas, where Siddhatta spent his childhood. Nowadays are the ruins of the towns of Piprahwa and Ganwaria identified as as Kapilavatthu. See e.g. Div009; Div020.
KASI Varanasi Town next to Sarnath (Isipatana). Varanasi is also called Benares by the English.
Khanbari The Pubbarama Monastery (the Eastern Monastery) is now represented by the village Khanbari.
KESAPUTTA A town in Kosala. See the famous Kalama Sutta A03-065.
KITAGIRI The place where Reverends Punabbasuka and Assaji misbehaved. See Dhp077.
KOSALA Country northwest of Magadha. Kosala was the land of king Pasenadi. The capital was Savatthi.
KOSAMBI Kosambi was in the vicinity of what is now Allahabad. See e.g. D16; S56-031.
KOTIGAMA See e.g. Div009.
KUKKUTAVATI Place where Maha Kappina was king before he joined the Sangha.
KURKIHAR Place where Maha Kassapa liked to stay.
KUSAVATI Kusinagar This was long before the Buddha appeared, Kusinagar. See D16, 5.18; D17.
KUSINAGAR Kusinagar Place where the Buddha died in the Sala Park of the Mallas. Also called Kusiņara. See e.g. D16; Div009.
KUSIŅARA Kusinagar Place where the Buddha died. Also called Kusinagar. See e.g. D16; Div009.
LUMBINI Lumbini Place where the Buddha was born, a park near Kapilavatthu near the Himalayas. Lumbini is just in Nepal (so the Buddha is born in Nepal and not in India as many think). An Asoka pillar still marks the spot. A few years ago, the name Rummindei, but nowadays the name Lumbini is used again, perhaps to make it easier for tourists and pilgrim fathers. If you are on a pilgrimage, then you now know where to look. See e.g. Div009; Div020.
MACCHIKASANDA Place where the householder Citta lived. See Dhp303.
MAGADHA Land of King Bimbisara, present-day Bihar. The capital was Rajagaha, later Pataalama became the capital.
MAHUSSATI See e.g. Snp5-00.
MITHILA Capital of the Vedehis.
NADIKA See e.g. D16.
NALA A Brahmin village. See e.g. Dhp227-230.
PATALIGAMA Patna See e.g. D16. Also called Pataliputta.
PATALIPUTTA Patna See e.g. D16. Also called Pataalama.
PATITTHANA See e.g. Snp5-00.
PAVA In this place lived Cunda the blacksmith from whom the Buddha ate his last meal. See e.g. D16.
RAJAGAHA Rajgir Capital of Magadha.
SAJJANELA A village in Kosala. Here lived, among others, Suppavasa, a female lay follower.
SAKETA See e.g. Dhp225
SAKKARA A Sakya town. See e.g. S45-002.
SALA Brahmin village in Kosala. See e.g. M041.
SAVATTHI Sahet-Mahet Location where the Jetavana is located. Savatthi is today identified as Sahet-Mahet, which is near Balrampur. The place is also referred to as Sravasti.
SENANI The village on the Neraņjara River where Sujata lived. This village is opposite Bodh Gaya (Uruvela) on the other side of the river.
SENANIGAMA Place near Uruvela. See e.g. Dhp085-086.
SERI See e.g. J003.
SETAVYA See e.g. Snp5-00.
SOREYYA See e.g. Dhp043.
SUPPARAKA See e.g. Ud1-10.
TAKKASILA See e.g. Dhp235-238.
TAXILA A university was located here at the time of the Buddha. See e.g. Dhp043.
UJJENI See e.g. Snp5-00.
UPATISSA Nalanda Birthplace of Sariputta. See e.g. D16. In 455 BC. Kumaragupta founded a monastery here that grew to a very large university with international fame.
URUVELA Bodh Gaya Place where the Buddha attained enlightenment (in the present state of Bihar). See e.g. Div009.
VAJJI Land north of Magadha.
VAMSA Land west and south of Kosala. It was ruled by king Udena during most of the Buddha's life. The capital Kosambi was located on the Yamuna River and was visited several times by the Visited Buddha.
VANASA See e.g. Snp5-00.
VARANASI See Kasi.
VEDISA See e.g. Snp5-00.
VERANJA See e.g. Dhp227-230.
VESALI Vaishali Place where Maha Pajapati Gotami and the other nuns were ordained.
Auteur:   Peter van Loosbroek -- Ananda    Copyright: www.sleuteltotinzicht.nl/glb_copyright.htm