Sankassa
Encyclopedia
Sankassa was an ancient city in India. The city came into prominence at the time of Gautama Buddha
. According to a Buddhist source, it was thirty leagues from Savatthi. After the Gautama Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (Death) King Asoka develop this place.After king Asoka named king "Jayachandra" (Hinduism) destroyed this place.Currently it has ruins of old monasteries and Buddhist monuments. It is rarely visited by pilgrim
s since it is difficult to go to, and there are not many facilities.After the long time "Alexander Cunningham" (British) was discovered that place in 1842.87 years later "Sir Anagarika Dharmapala" (Sri Lanka) came that place (For Searching)In 1957 "Panditha Madabawita Wijesoma" Thero (Sri Lanka) came to 'Sankassa' for the few years and he started a Buddhist school (Wijesoma Widyalaya) for poor peoples.
Sankassa is now identified with Sankissa Basantapura on the north bank of the Ikkhumati river (Kalinadi), between Atranji and Kannauj, twenty-three miles west of Fatehgarh
and forty five north of Kannauj
, in Farrukhabad district
of Uttar Pradesh
state of India
.
It was at Sankassa that (according to the commentaries) the Buddha
returned to earth, after preaching the Abhidhamma Pitaka
in Tavatimsa, following the performance of the Twin Miracle under the Gandamba tree. As the time approached for the Buddha to leave Távatimsa , Moggallana (Anuruddha
, according to SNA.ii.570; cf. Vsm., p. 391) announced his coming return to the multitude, who had been waiting at Savatthi, fed by Culla Anathapindika, while Moggallana expounded the Dhamma. They then made their way to Sankassa. The descent of the Buddha took place on the day of the Mahapavarana festival. Sakka provides three ladders for the Buddha's descent from Sineru to the earth: on the right was a ladder of gold for the gods; on the left a silver ladder for Maha Brahma and his retinue; and in the middle a ladder of jewels for the Buddha. The assembled people covered the earth for thirty leagues round. There was a clear view of the nine Brahma worlds above and of Avici
(a hell
) below. The Buddha was accompanied by Pañcasikha, Mátali, Mahá Brahmá and Suyáma. Sariputta was the first to welcome him (followed by Uppalavanna
, and the Buddha preached the Law, starting with what was within the comprehension even of a puthujjana, and ending with what only a Buddha could understand.
On this occasion was preached the Parosahassa Játaka to proclaim to the multitude the unparalleled wisdom of Sáriputta. It is said' that the Buddha's descent to Sankassa had provided opportunity for Moggallána to show his eminence in iddhi
, Anuruddha
in dibbacakkhu, and Punna
in skill in preaching, and the Buddha wished to give Sariputta a chance of shining in his wisdom . He therefore asked of Sáriputta questions which no one else could answer. The opening words of the Sáriputta Sutta are supposed to refer to this descent from Tusita.
The site of the city gate of Sankassa is one of the "unchangeable" spots of the world (avijahitatthanam). All Buddhas descend at that spot to the world of men after preaching the Abhidhamma. From Sankassa the Buddha went to Jetavana
.
A shrine was erected on the spot where the Buddha's right foot first touched the ground at Sankassa. When the Chinese pilgrims, Hiouen Thsang and Fa Hien, visited the place, they found three ladders, which had been built of brick and stone by the ancients, to commemorate the Buddha's descent, but the ladders were nearly sunk in the earth.
There was, in the Buddha's time, a deer park at Sankassa where Suhemanta Thera heard the Buddha preach. During the Vajjiputta controversy
, Revata
Thera, on his way from Soreyya to Sahajati, went through Sankassa. The road he took passed through Sankassa, Kannakujja
, Udumbara
and Aggalapura.
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
. According to a Buddhist source, it was thirty leagues from Savatthi. After the Gautama Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (Death) King Asoka develop this place.After king Asoka named king "Jayachandra" (Hinduism) destroyed this place.Currently it has ruins of old monasteries and Buddhist monuments. It is rarely visited by pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s since it is difficult to go to, and there are not many facilities.After the long time "Alexander Cunningham" (British) was discovered that place in 1842.87 years later "Sir Anagarika Dharmapala" (Sri Lanka) came that place (For Searching)In 1957 "Panditha Madabawita Wijesoma" Thero (Sri Lanka) came to 'Sankassa' for the few years and he started a Buddhist school (Wijesoma Widyalaya) for poor peoples.
Sankassa is now identified with Sankissa Basantapura on the north bank of the Ikkhumati river (Kalinadi), between Atranji and Kannauj, twenty-three miles west of Fatehgarh
Fatehgarh
Fatehgarh is a cantonment town in Farrukhabad district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located on the right bank of the Ganges River. It is the administrative headquarters of Farrukhabad District. Fatehgarh derives its name from an old fort. It is a small city with no significant...
and forty five north of Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
, in Farrukhabad district
Farrukhabad District
Farrukhabad district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The town of Fatehgarh is the district headquarters. The district is part of Kanpur Division....
of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
state of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Ancient Buddhist events at Sankassa
Sankassa received its fame from statements and claims recorded in the ancient commentaries to the Tipitaka. However, in the Tipitaka itself the events that are supposed to have occurred at Sankassa are not mentioned at all.It was at Sankassa that (according to the commentaries) the Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
returned to earth, after preaching the Abhidhamma Pitaka
Abhidhamma Pitaka
The Abhidhamma Pitaka is the last of the three pitakas constituting the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravāda Buddhism....
in Tavatimsa, following the performance of the Twin Miracle under the Gandamba tree. As the time approached for the Buddha to leave Távatimsa , Moggallana (Anuruddha
Anuruddha
Anuruddha was one of the five head disciples and a cousin of Gautama Buddha.-Early years:Anuruddha was the son of Sukkhodana and brother to Mahanama. Since Sukkhodana was the brother of Suddhodana, king of the Sakyas in Kapilavastu, Anuruddha was cousin to Siddhartha, . He was a kshatriya by...
, according to SNA.ii.570; cf. Vsm., p. 391) announced his coming return to the multitude, who had been waiting at Savatthi, fed by Culla Anathapindika, while Moggallana expounded the Dhamma. They then made their way to Sankassa. The descent of the Buddha took place on the day of the Mahapavarana festival. Sakka provides three ladders for the Buddha's descent from Sineru to the earth: on the right was a ladder of gold for the gods; on the left a silver ladder for Maha Brahma and his retinue; and in the middle a ladder of jewels for the Buddha. The assembled people covered the earth for thirty leagues round. There was a clear view of the nine Brahma worlds above and of Avici
Avici
In Buddhism, ' is the lowest level of the Naraka or "hell" realm, into which the dead who have committed grave misdeeds may be reborn...
(a hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
) below. The Buddha was accompanied by Pañcasikha, Mátali, Mahá Brahmá and Suyáma. Sariputta was the first to welcome him (followed by Uppalavanna
Uppalavanna
Uppalavannā was considered to be amongst the two chief female disciples of the Buddha, the other being Khema.She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and was known for her great beauty. Her name means "one with the hue of the blue lotus"....
, and the Buddha preached the Law, starting with what was within the comprehension even of a puthujjana, and ending with what only a Buddha could understand.
On this occasion was preached the Parosahassa Játaka to proclaim to the multitude the unparalleled wisdom of Sáriputta. It is said' that the Buddha's descent to Sankassa had provided opportunity for Moggallána to show his eminence in iddhi
Iddhi
Iddhi is a Buddhist term which refers to supernormal powers. These powers are physical, as opposed to mental...
, Anuruddha
Anuruddha
Anuruddha was one of the five head disciples and a cousin of Gautama Buddha.-Early years:Anuruddha was the son of Sukkhodana and brother to Mahanama. Since Sukkhodana was the brother of Suddhodana, king of the Sakyas in Kapilavastu, Anuruddha was cousin to Siddhartha, . He was a kshatriya by...
in dibbacakkhu, and Punna
Punna
', also called ', was an arahant and one of the ten leading disciples of the Buddha.When asked by the Buddha what he would think if people were to assault or kill him, each time explained how he would find himself fortunate. As a result, the Buddha commended on his self-control and peacefulness....
in skill in preaching, and the Buddha wished to give Sariputta a chance of shining in his wisdom . He therefore asked of Sáriputta questions which no one else could answer. The opening words of the Sáriputta Sutta are supposed to refer to this descent from Tusita.
The site of the city gate of Sankassa is one of the "unchangeable" spots of the world (avijahitatthanam). All Buddhas descend at that spot to the world of men after preaching the Abhidhamma. From Sankassa the Buddha went to Jetavana
Jetavana
Jetavana was one of the most famous of the Buddhist monasteries in India. It was the second monastery donated to Gautama Buddha, after the Veluvana in Rajagaha. Jetavana is located just outside the old city of Savatthi...
.
A shrine was erected on the spot where the Buddha's right foot first touched the ground at Sankassa. When the Chinese pilgrims, Hiouen Thsang and Fa Hien, visited the place, they found three ladders, which had been built of brick and stone by the ancients, to commemorate the Buddha's descent, but the ladders were nearly sunk in the earth.
There was, in the Buddha's time, a deer park at Sankassa where Suhemanta Thera heard the Buddha preach. During the Vajjiputta controversy
Second Buddhist council
The Second Buddhist council took place approximately one hundred years after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa. Virtually all scholars agree that the second council was a historical event...
, Revata
Revata
Elder Revata was one of the Elders who took a prominent part in the Second Council.His another name was Soreyya Revata. He lived in Soreyya, and, on discovering that the orthodox monks, led by Sambhūta Sānavāsī and Yasa Kākandakaputta, were anxious to consult him, Revata left Soreyya, and,...
Thera, on his way from Soreyya to Sahajati, went through Sankassa. The road he took passed through Sankassa, Kannakujja
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
, Udumbara
Udumbara
Ficus racemosa is a species of plant in the Moraceae family. Popularly known as the Cluster Fig Tree or Goolar Fig, this is native to Australasia, South-East Asia and the Indian Subcontinent...
and Aggalapura.
External links
- Sankassa Video Documentary (in Sinhalese) Ancient Buddhist events at Sankassa