An Identify Jetavana Monastery in the views of Archeological Evidences

Abstract

After attaining Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the Lord Buddha traveled to various places to guide sentient beings, from small towns to large cities, and from ordinary people to kings who ruled over territories. This inspired many to develop faith in the Triple Gem and turn to the teachings of the Buddha, which we now call Buddhism, a faith that spread extensively until the final moment of his life, when he passed into Parinirvana at Kusinara at the age of 80. During the early period of his journey to guide sentient beings, the Buddha resided in various places such as under trees, beneath cliffs, on treetop platforms, in natural caves, and in makeshift shelters. Later, King Bimbisara, upon attaining the stage of Sotāpanna (Stream-enterer) after listening to the Dhamma, respectfully offered Veluvana Monastery (the Bamboo Grove Monastery) as a residence for the Buddha and the Sangha, marking the first donated monastic dwelling. From that point onward, kings, merchants, wealthy laypeople, and devout followers of Buddhism from various towns generously offered monasteries to accommodate the growing monastic community. Among the many monasteries where the Buddha spent the rains retreat, the Jetavana Monastery in Savatthi (Sravasti) is considered the most important, as the Buddha spent 19 rains retreats there.