SRAVASTI FACTS & FIGURES
- Location: Uttar Pradesh, India
- Best time to Visit: October to March
- Significance: A Buddhist Site, Jetavana monastery, Ananda Bodhi tree Shobhanath temple.
Sravasti or Savatthi , a city of ancient India, was one of the six largest cities in India during Gautama Buddha’s lifetime. The city was located in the fertile Gangetic plains in the present day’s Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. Jetavana monastery was a famous monastery close to Savatthi.
Sravasti, capital of an ancient kingdom by the same name, is sacred to the Buddhists because it was here that Lord Buddha confounded his critics with a million fold manifestation of himself, seated on a thousand-petalled lotus, as fire and water emanated from his body.
The Past
Buddha spent 25 years living in the monastery of Jetavana. Many Vinaya rules, Jatakas and Sutras were first discussed at this place. The Buddha is supposed to have astonished rival teachers by performing miracles at Sravasti. It is said that it was in Sravasti that the Buddha transformed Angulimal from a dacoit into a Buddhist monk. He also delivered many important sermons here. King Ashoka erected two pillars 21 meters high on either side of the eastern gateway of the Jetavana monastery. Sravasti was a flourishing center of learning during the Gupta period.
Pilgrim/Tourist Attractions in Sravasti
The Ananda Bodhi tree
This tree, under which Lord Buddha Meditated for a night, is said to bless the devotees who meditate under it as it was specialized by Lord Buddha himself.
Jetavana
The Jetavana is said to once host Lord Buddha and his pilgrims, where One of his followers, a rich merchant, covered the whole ground of the park (vana) with gold coins. Lord Buddha used tehse coins to build a Vihara here
Shobhanath temple : the Jain pilgrims revere this temple, believed to be the birthplace of a Jain saint, Sambhavnath.
Devi Patan Temple
The Devi Patan Temple is located some 28 km from Sravasti. It is one of the most important Shaktipeeths in the region, revered by Hindus in India and Nepal.
Sankissa
Sankissa is the place where the Buddha descended from heaven along with Lord Brahma and Devaraj Indra after giving a discourse to his mother, Mayadevi who had died soon after giving birth to him. Emperor Ashoka erected a pillar with an elephant capital to mark this holy spot. Sankissa is situated on the banks of river Kali and is most easily accessible from Agra, which is 175 km away. The nearest railhead is Pakhna, 11.5 km away.
How to Reach Sravasti
- Air : Lucknow, the nearest airport, will serve the air tourists.
- Rail : Balrampur is the nearest railhead, well connected to Lucknow and thereby to other major cities of India.
- Road : A good network joins this city to major cities of Uttar Pradesh.
