A town near Rájagaha, (according to Buddhaghosa, DA.i.35) one league away. The Buddha is mentioned as having several times stayed there during his residence in Pávárika's mango grove, and while there he had discussions with Upáli-Gahapati and Díghatapassí (S.ii.110; M.i.376ff.), with Kevatta (D.i.211ff.), and also several conversations with Asibandhakaputta (S. ii. 311 23).
The Buddha visited Nálandá during his last tour through Magadha, and it was there that Sáriputta uttered his "lion's roar," affirming his faith in the Buddha, shortly before his death (D.ii.81f.; iii.99ff.; S.v.159ff.). The road from Rájagaha to Nálandá passed through Ambalatthiká (D.ii.81; Vin.ii.287), and from Nálandá it went on to Pátaligáma (D.ii.84). Between Rájagaha and Nálandá was situated the Bahuputta cetiya (S.ii.220).
According to the Kevatta Sutta (D.i.211), in the Buddha's time Nálandá was already an influential and prosperous town, thickly populated, though it was not till later that it became the centre of learning for which it afterwards became famous. There is a record in the Samyutta Nikáya (S.iv.322), of the town having been the victim of a severe famine during the Buddha's time.
Nálandá was the residence of Sonnadinná (VvA.144). Nigantha Nátaputta is several times mentioned as staying at Nálandá, which was evidently a centre of activity of the Niganthas.
Hsouien Thsang (Beal: op. cit., ii.167f ) gives several explanations of the name Nálandá. One is that it was named after the Nága who lived in a tank in the middle of the mango grove. Another - and accepted by him - is that the Bodhisatta once had his capital here and gave "alms without intermission," hence the name.
Nálanda is, in the northern books, given as the name of Sáriputta's birthplace (see Nálaka).
Nálanda is identified with the modern Baragaon (CAGI. 537).
A village in the central province of Ceylon. Once Parakkamabáhu I. occupied a camp there, and it is several times mentioned in the accounts of his campaigns. Cv.lxx.167, 207; lxxii.169.
A conversation between the Buddha and Upáligahapati in Pávárika’s mango grove, as to why some beings attain full freedom in this world while others do not. S.iv.110.
Sáriputta's affirmation of faith in the Buddha - there never was, nor is, nor shall be, anyone possessing higher wisdom than the Buddha. S.v.159 f.; cp. D.ii.81 and D.iii.99ff.