The Life of the Buddha: Conversion of Anathapindika.

Now in these days there was a very wealthy merchant, by name Anathapindika, and he was residing at the house of a friend at Rajagaha, and the news reached him that a Blessed Buddha had arisen. Very early in the morning he went to the Teacher, and heard the Law, and was converted; and he gave a great donation to the Order, and received a promise from the Master that he would visit Savatthi, the merchant's home. Then all along the road for the whole distance of forty-five leagues he built a resting-place at every league. And he bought the great Jetavanna Grove at Savatthi for the price of as many pieces of gold as would cover the whole ground. In the midst thereof he built a pleasant chamber for the Master, and separate cells for the eighty Elders round about it, and many other residences with long halls and open roofs, and terraces to walk by night and day, and
reservoirs of water. Then did he send a message to the Master that all was prepared. And the Master departed from Rajagaha, and in due course reached Savatthi. And the wealthy merchant, together with his wife and his son and two daughters in festal attire, and accompanied by a mighty train of followers, went out to meet him; while theBlessed One on his part entered the new-built monastery with all the infinite grace and peerless majesty of a Buddha, making the grove to shine with the glory of his person, as though it had been sprinkled with dust of gold.

Then Anathapindika said to the Master: "What should I do with this monastery?" and the Master answered: "Bestow it upon the Order, whether now present or to come." And the great Merchant, pouring water from a golden vessel into the Master's hands, confirmed the gift in these terms. And the Master received it and gave thanks and praised the uses of monasteries and the gift of them. The dedication festival lasted nine months. In those days there also resided at Savatthi, the chief town of Kosala, the lady Visakha, the wife of the wealthy merchant Punavaddhana. She made herself the patroness and supporter of the Order, and was also the means of converting her father-in-law, who was previously an adherent of the naked Jainas; and for this reason she got the surname of the mother of Migara. Beyond this was her dedication to the Order of the monastery of Pubbarama, the value and splendour whereof were second only to those of the monastery erected by Anathapindika himself.

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India - Ancient - Religion/philosophy - Indians/Buddhists - English