Pipphalivana
Pipphalivana was the capital of the Moriya republic, a gana- sangha of the Mahajanapada period.[1][2][3] The 7th century CE Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang later referred to it by the name of Nyagrodhavana.[4][5][5][3]
Buddhist texts like the Dīgha Nikāya and Buddhavaṃsa suggest that Pipphalivana was the chief town and capital of the Moriyas.
Location[edit]
Some say that Pipphalivana probably lay between Rummindei (Lumbini) in the Terai region of Nepal and Kasia in the modern-day Gorakhpur district.[3] The town is identified with Nyagrodhavana (banyan grove), a village in Gorakhpur district which contained the famous Embers' stupa and was mentioned by Hiuen Tsang.[3][2] Fa-Hien tells us that the stupa lay four yojanas to the east of the river Anoma and twelve yojanas to the west of Kusinara.[2][4]
Etymology[edit]
A tradition explains that the Moriyas took refuge in a pipphalivana (grove of pepper trees) and founded the city there, though it is unrealistic.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Hazra, Kanai Lal (1984). Royal Patronage of Buddhism in Ancient India. D.K. Publications. ISBN 978-0-86590-167-4.
- ^ a b c d Republics in ancient India. Brill Archive.
- ^ a b c d Kapoor, Subodh (2002). Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography. Cosmo Publications. ISBN 978-81-7755-299-7.
- ^ a b Cunningham, Sir Alexander (1871). The Ancient Geography of India: I. The Buddhist Period, Including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang. Trübner and Company. pp. 430–433.
- ^ a b Sharma 1968, p. 219-224.
Bibliography[edit]
- Sharma, J. P. (1968). Republics in Ancient India, C. 1500 B.C.-500 B.C. Leiden, Netherlands: E. J. Brill. ISBN 978-9-004-02015-3.