Grammatical Analysis
Pubbārāma: [m.] The Eastern Park; The Eastern Monastery. Formed by pubba (east, former) + ārāma (park, monastery).
Orthodox Definition
Pubbārāma was the second most important monastery in Sāvatthī, situated to the east of the city. It was famously built and donated by Visākhā, the chief female lay disciple.
Visākhā funded the construction by selling her incredibly valuable, jewel-encrusted wedding cloak (the “creeper parure”). The centerpiece of the park was a magnificent two-story mansion named the Migāramātupāsāda (The Mansion of Migāra’s Mother).
The Buddha alternated his time between Jetavana and Pubbārāma. He spent six rainy seasons here. The texts often note the Buddha residing at Pubbārāma when delivering teachings specifically focused on the duties of lay followers or advanced practices for nuns.
Textual References
- Sutta: Aggañña Sutta (DN 27) – Delivered at the mansion of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Park, dealing with the origins of caste and society.
- Sutta: Uposatha Sutta (AN 3.70) – Delivered to Visākhā herself while she was residing at her donated monastery.
- Commentary: Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā – The story of the sale of Visākhā’s jewelry to finance the construction of the grand mansion.