Jetavana monastery, (near) Saheth-Maheth, Uttar Pradesh, IN

Raw data

"Jetavana, India"
The remains of Jetavana and Savatthi were locally known as Sahet-Mahet. Alexander Cunningham used the ancient (6th century AD) accounts of Chinese pilgrim-monks to determine that Sahet-Mahet actually referred to Jetavana and Savatthi. Jetavana is located just outside the old city of Savatthi."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetavana
Input by: tmciolek, 24 Jan 2009

"Djetavana Vihara. Lit. Gold Fields Monastery, The Garden That Was Given Monastery, Djeta Monastery. A vihara of seven storeys in the park which Anathapindaka bought from prince Djeta (the son of Prasendajit) and gave to Sakyamuni." Src: Eitel (1888:53)
Input by: tmciolek, 27 Feb 2009

Also known as Jetavanarama, this site is connected in early Buddhist scripture with one Anathapindada, a wealthy banker of the city of Savatthi, who purchased a princely pleasure gardena and converted it into a monastery. It is described as having cells, a dining hall, a meeting hall, bathing places, kitchens, wells, pond, covered promenades. This site was monastery continuously until the fifth century, when Fa Hien the Chinese pilgrim stayed there. It was in ruins by the time Xuanzang arrived in the 640's. The monastery was reoccupied sometime later, a modest vihara built and it received a grant of six villages from the king of Kanouj in 1130 CE.
See Sukumar Dutt, Buddhist Monks and Monasteries of India: their history and contribution to Indian culture (London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd. 1962), p.
Input by: Stewart Gordon, 26 Aug 2009.

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 27 Apr 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 2 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Jetavana monastery, India.

General location of the Jetavana monastery, India.
lat=27.5166667 long=82.05
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://maps.fallingrain.com), 2009.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=27.5166667+82.05+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Jetavana%20monastery,%20IN)&ll=27.5166667,82.05&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name


2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • India:State of Uttar Pradesh

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

  • Djeta Monastery (Eitel 1888:53)
  • Djetavana Vihara (Eitel 1888:53)
  • Gold Fields Monastery (Eitel 1888:53)
  • The Garden That Was Given Monastery (Eitel 1888:53)

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates


5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • [missing data]

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • c. 400 BCE
  • MBM chrono-tag <=0200 - tmciolek 27 Apr 2013
  • <=0200 0200-32c 0233-66c 0267-99c 0300-32c 0333-66c 0367-99c 0400-32c 0433-66c 0467-99c 0500-32c 0533-66c 0567-99c 0600-32c 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66p dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • c. 400 CE (Fa Hien stayed in the monastery)

13. Date-late

  • 1130 CE (grant from the King of Kanouj)
  • MBM chrono-tag 1100-32c 1133-66p - tmciolek 27 Apr 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • Scripture connects this site with others occupied by the Buddha during his lifetime, including Jivakarama and Ghositarama

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Early texts, inscription, pilgrimage account

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

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