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Pāvā

A city of the Mallā, which the Buddha visited during his last journey, going there from Bhogagāma and stopping at Cunda’s mango grove.

Cunda lived in Pāvā and invited the Buddha to a meal, which proved to be his last. It was on this occasion that the Cunda Sutta (1) was taught (SNA.i. 159). From Pāvā the Buddha journeyed on to Kusinārā, crossing the Kakuṭṭhā on the way. D.ii.126 ff; Ud.viii.5; the road from Pāvā to Kusinārā is mentioned several times in the books — e.g., Vin.ii.284; D.ii.162.

According to the Saṅgīti Sutta, at the time the Buddha was staying at Pāvā, the Mallā had just completed their new Mote hall, Ubbhataka, and, at their invitation, the Buddha consecrated it by first occupying it and then teaching in it. After the Buddha had finished speaking, Sāriputta recited the Saṅgīti Sutta to the assembled monks.

Pāvā was also a centre of the Nigaṇṭhā and, at the time mentioned above, Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta had just died at Pāvā and his followers were divided by bitter wrangles (D.iii.210). Cunda Samaṇuddesa was spending his rainy season at Pāvā, and he reported to the Buddha, who was at Sāmagāma, news of the Nigaṇṭhā’s quarrels (Ibid., 117 f; M.ii.243 f).

The distance from Pāvā to Kusinārā was three quarters of a league (three gāvuta). It is said (UdA.403) that on the way between these two places, the Buddha had to stop at twenty-five resting places, so faint and weary was he.

Mention is made in the Udāna (Ud.i.7) of the Buddha having stayed at the Ajakalāpaka-cetiya in Pāvā. This may have been during a previous visit.

After the Buddha’s death, the Mallā of Pāvā claimed a share in his relics. Doṇa satisfied their claim, and a thūpa was erected in Pāvā over their share of the relics (D.ii.167; Bu.xxviii.3).

The inhabitants of Pāvā are called Pāveyyakā.

Pāvā was the birthplace of Khandasumana.