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Nandanavana

1. Nandanavana.– The chief of the parks in Tāvatiṃsa, where the inhabitants of Tāvatiṃsa, headed by Indra, go for their amusement. (e.g., DhA.ii.266; A.iii.40; J.vi.240; VvA.7, 34, 61, etc; PvA.173, 176, 177, etc; Mtu.i.32, etc.) Cakkavatti kings are born in Tāvatiṃsa after death and spend their time in Nandanavana (S.v.342). It is said (e.g., J.i.49) that there is a Nandanavana in each deva world. The devas go there just before their death and disappear in the midst of their revels. Thus, the Bodhisatta went to Nandanavana in the Tusita world before his “descent” into Mahāmāyā’s womb (J.i.50; see also J.vi.144). In Nandanavana is a lake called Nandana (J.ii.189) and evidently also a palace called Ekapuṇḍarīka-vimāna (MT.568). Nandanavana was so called because it awoke delight in the hearts of all who visited it (J.v.158). Sometimes ascetics, like Nārada (Ibid.,392), possessed of great psychic power, would spend their siesta in the shadow of the grove.

2. Nandanavana.– A park in Anurādhapura between the Mahā­megha­vana and the southern wall of the city. Mahinda taught there, to the assembled populace, the Bālapaṇḍita Sutta, the day after his arrival in Anurādhapura. Later, on successive days, he taught the Āsīvisopama, the Anamatagga, the Khajjanīya, the Gomayapiṇḍa and the Dhamma­cakkap­pavattana Suttas. On the occasions of the teaching of these various suttas, thousands of people attained to various fruits of the Path, and, because the park was the first centre from which Mahinda radiated a knowledge of the Buddha’s teaching’ it came to be called the Jotivana, by which name it was known later. Mhv.xv.1, 4, 176, 178, 186, 195, 197, 199, 202; Dpv.xiii.11, 12, 14, 15; xiv.12, 17, 44, 48; Sp.i.80‑82.

3. Nandanavana.– A private park in Pulatthipura, laid out by Parakkamabāhu I. Cv.lxxiii.97; lxxix.2.