Pāvā

Besides being an centre of Buddhists Pāvā was also a centre of Jainism. Hence the Pasādika Sutta [1] (Digha Nikāya xi71 I according to another collection) positions Buddha at this place at the time the leader of the Jains died: "Once the Lord was staying among the Sakyans (at Pāvā) ... in the mango-grove belonging to the Vedhanna family (the Samagama). At that time the Nigantha Nātaputta (or Mahāvīra, the leader of the Jains) had just died ... And at his death the Niganthas (Jains) were split into two parties ...".[2]

A stupa built at the place where Cunda's house used to be, at the site of ancient Pava.

Pilgrimage to
Buddha's Holy Sites
The Four Main Sites
Bodh Gaya Kushinagar Lumbini Sarnath
Four Additional Sites
Rajgir Sankissa Shravasti Vaishali
Other Sites
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Later Sites
Ajanta Caves Barabar Caves Bharhut Ellora Caves Lalitgiri Mathura Nasik Caves Piprahwa Pushpagiri Ratnagiri Sanchi Udayagiri Vikramashila

Pāvā (now Padrauna) was a city in ancient India, at the time of Mahāvira and Gáutama or Gótama Buddha or Sakyamuni Buddha as he was called. It was a city of the Mallas which the Buddha visited during his last journey, going there from Bhogagama and staying at Cunda's mango grove. Pāvā is located about 15 kilometres east of Kushināgar in Uttar Pradesh, India.

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 was preached.[3] From Pāvā the Buddha journeyed on to Kushināgar, crossing the Kakkuttha River on the way[4]

According to the Sangiti Sutta, at the time the Buddha was staying at Pāvā, the Mallas had already completed their new Mote hall, Ubbhataka, and, at their invitation, the Buddha consecrated it by first occupying it and then preaching in it. After the Buddha had finished speaking, one of his leading disciples, Sariputta, recited the Sangiti Sutta to the assembled monks.

After the Buddha's death, the Mallas of Pāvā claimed a share in his relics. The Brahmin Dona satisfied their claim, and a Stūpa was erected in Pāvā over their share of the relics.[5] In other words, Pāvā had both the clan of the Sakya -- Buddha's clan -- and that of the Malla.