Sravasti was said to have been discovered by mythological king Sravasta. This place is located in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. Dated back, sravasti had been a capital of Kosala Kingdom and was one of the largest cities in India. One of the eight sites of Buddhist Lotus Path was discovered in the heart of this very city. Soon, it had become one of the Holy Buddhist Pilgrimage to site.It became a major centre of the Sammatiya school of Buddhism, which is a part of one of the Nikaya or Hinayana schools. At 7th century Huien Tsang visited from china, and discovered at least 30 monasteries. Slowly, monks from all over the world started coming to this and finally settled here.
The history of Buddha’s legendary miracles has been laid down in the scriptures. The legend says that Buddha had come to sravasti in search of Nirvana, leaving behind his footsteps. The King Ashoka, who was a dedicated follower of Lord Buddha, to have come down to sravasti. It is said that relics of Emperor Ashoka was found from this place.
Buddhist Mythology
The Buddhist mythology says that Sravasti holds the Miracles performed by Lord Buddha. Buddha has stayed at sravasti maximum of his days and is said to have spent 25 rainy seasons, comprising of 3 months each year. This is the place Buddha had preaches his utmost sermons to the followers and devotees.It is said that a wealthy merchant had come down to this place, who had built a Vihara for the reception of Lord Buddha. Anand Bodhi Tree lays at the famous Jetavan Monastic Complex. The offspring of it is been planted by one of the Buddha devotee Ananda.
One of the major sites in this place is the Shaktipeeth’s “The Devi Patan Temple”. Shobhnath Temple Sravasti is considered to be the birth place of Jain Tirthankar ‘Shambhabanath’. At sravasti the temples, shrines and were built in the Gupta Style, Jetavana Monastery is eye catching site, which depicts the Buddhist Architecture of this period.
Sravasti’s ruler Pasenadi was the ruler during the lifetime of Buddha and the king was one of the most devoted disciples of Buddha. Once a Buddhist scholar had said that during the Buddha lifetime, Sravasti had become one of the prosperous cities. More that 50 families lived at that time devoting their life listening to Buddhist sermons.
