1. Aciravatí.-A river, the modern Rápti in Oudh; one of the Pañca-mahánadí (Vin.ii.237), the five great rivers flowing from the Himálaya eastwards (pácínaninná) (S.v.39, etc.) into the sea. During the hot season it ran dry, leaving a bed of sand (A.iv.101). It flowed through Kosala, and at Savatthi an udumbara grove grew on its banks; it, could be seen from the terrace of Pasenadi's palace (Vin.iv.111-12; SnA.i.19). To the south of it was Manasákata, and on its southern bank was a mango grove where the Buddha sometimes resided (D.i.235-6). The Tevijja Sutta was preached here, and the Aciravatí is used in a simile to prove the futility of sacrifices and prayers: it is of no use standing on one bank of the river and calling to the other bank to come over.
In the river were many bathing places, in some of which courtesans bathed naked; the bhikkhunis did likewise until a rule was passed prohibiting it (Vin.i.293; iv.278). The Chabbaggiya nuns, however, continued to do so even afterwards (Vin.iv.259f).
The river was crossed in rafts (Vin.iii.63); it sometimes became so full (D.i.244-5; M.iii.117; J.iv.167) that disastrous floods occurred, in one of which Vidúdabha and his army were swept into the sea (DhA.i.360).
In sheltered spots monks and brahmins used to bathe (Vin.iv.161), and once Sáriputta himself bathed there (AA.i.315). The Sattarasa-vaggiya monks frequented the river for water-sports (Vin.iv.111-12).
Once the Buddha was told that the Pañcavaggiya monks were in the habit of seizing the cows that crossed the river (Vin.i.191).
The elder Sivalí stopped on the banks of the Aciravatí while on his way to the Himálaya with five hundred monks (AA.i.139). In the time of Kassapa Buddha the river flowed round Sávatthi and, at the eastern fort, flowed into a wide and deep lake on which separate bathing places were made for the king, the people, the Buddha and the Order respectively (MA.i.371).
The people on the banks were in the habit of casting nets for fish (UdA.366). Near the river was Dandakappa, a Kosalan village, and while staying there Ananda bathed in the river with many other monks (A.iii.402).
Two occasions are mentioned on which monks hit in the eye swans flying over the river (J.i.418 and ii.366. See also DhA.iv.5 and 8f). It was here that Patácárá's child was drowned (DhA.ii.264).
Kapila was born here as a golden fish as a result of his evil deeds (DhA.iv.41; see also Kapila S). In the Avadána Sataka (DhA.i.63; also ii.60) the name is given as Aciravatí, and according to I Tsing (p.156) means the river of the Aji (dragon).
2. Aciravati.-A canal which ran westwards from the Maháváluka-gangá in Ceylon; from it flowed four other canals eastwards: the Sataruddhá, Nibbindá, Dhavalá and Sídá. Cv.lxxix.51-3.