Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Veḷuvana: [nt.] The Bamboo Grove. Formed by veḷu (bamboo) + vana (forest, grove).
Orthodox Definition
Veḷuvana was the very first piece of land and monastery ever donated to the Buddha and his Saṅgha. Located just outside the city of Rājagaha in the kingdom of Magadha, it was gifted by King Bimbisāra shortly after the Buddha’s enlightenment.
Also known as the kalandakanivāpa (The Squirrels’ Feeding Ground), it served as the Buddha’s primary residence during the early years of his ministry before the center of gravity shifted to Sāvatthī. The Buddha spent several rains retreats here. It was at Veḷuvana that Venerables Sāriputta and Moggallāna first approached the Buddha and joined the order, and where the Buddha formally appointed them as his two Chief Disciples.
Quote
9. Piṇḍapātapārisuddhisuttaṃ
- Piṇḍapātapārisuddhi Sutta
438. Evaṃ me sutaṃ – ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
- Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place.
343. Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto sāyanhasamayaṃ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi.
Then, in the evening, Venerable Sāriputta emerged from his seclusion and approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side.Ekamantaṃ nisinnaṃ kho āyasmantaṃ sāriputtaṃ bhagavā etadavoca –
As Venerable Sāriputta was sitting to one side, the Blessed One said to him:‘‘Vippasannāni kho te, sāriputta, indriyāni, parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto.
“Your faculties, Sāriputta, are serene; your skin color is purified and bright.Katamena kho tvaṃ, sāriputta, vihārena etarahi bahulaṃ viharasī’’ti?
With what abiding, Sāriputta, do you mostly dwell now?”‘‘Suññatāvihārena kho ahaṃ, bhante, etarahi bahulaṃ viharāmī’’ti.
“Now, Venerable Sir, I mostly dwell with the abiding in emptiness.”‘‘Sādhu, sādhu, sāriputta!
“Good, Sāriputta, good!”— Majjhima Nikāya (MN 151)