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town located near the Rapti River in northeastern Uttar Pradesh
is said to be have been founded by the mythological king Sravast.
In Buddhist times (6th century BC-6th century AD), Shravasti was
capital of the kingdom of Kosala and was important both as a prosperous
trading centre and for its religious associations. Buddha is believed
to have spent 24 monsoons in the city. It is said that Buddha
sat on a lotus with a thousand petals and multiplied his image
a million times. A divine sight that silenced his critics. Age-old
stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples near the village
of Sahet-Mahet, highlight Buddha's association with Shravasti.
An important religious site is the Jetavana Monastery, which was
erected in a garden outside the walls of the city and presented
to the Buddha by a wealthy banker, Anathapinaka. Other important
Buddhist monasteries were the Rajakarama and the Purvarama. An
exquisite garden here has the famous 'Anandabodhi' tree - an offspring
of one said to be planted by Buddha's main disciple Ananda. The
`Sobhanath' temple is believed to be the birth place of Jain tirthankar
'Sambhavanath' making Shravasti an important centre for the Jainas.
The city has been identified with the twin villages of Saheth
and Maheth northwest of Balrampur. Today it is surrounded by a
great rampart of earth and brick. Excavation has been undertaken
by the Archaeological Survey of India.
