Sankissa (also Sankasia, Sankassa and Sankasya) was an ancient city in India. The city came into prominence at the time of Gautama Buddha. According to a Buddhist source, it was thirty leagues from Savatthi.[1] After the Gautama Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (passing away) king Ashoka developed this place and installed one of his famous Pillars of Ashoka in the city, from which the elephant capital survives. He also built a stupa and a temple commemorating the visit of the Buddha. This temple exists even today and the ruins of the stupa are also present as a temple of Vishari Devi. It is said that the name Visahari Devi is given to the mother of the Buddha.
Sankissa
Sankisa
Elephant capital at Sankissa, one of the Pillars of Ashoka, 3rd century BCE
Descent of the Buddha from the Trayastrimsa Heaven at Sankissa.[2]
Currently it has ruins of old monasteries and Buddhist monuments. It is rarely visited by pilgrims since it is difficult to go to, and there are not many facilities. After a long time Alexander Cunningham (British) discovered the place in 1842. Eighty-seven years later Sir Anagarika Dharmapala (Sri Lanka) came here on spiritual quest. In 1957 Panditha Madabawita Wijesoma Thero (Sri Lanka) came to 'Sankissa' for few years and started a Buddhist school (Wijesoma Widyalaya) for poor people.
It was known as Sankasya Nagar and was ruled by king Kushadhwaja, was a younger brother of Janaka, the father of Sita, the female lead of Ramayana and wife of Lord Rama. Once Sudhanva, supposedly an evil king of Sankasya Nagar, demands the hand of Sita from Janaka. In a war that ensues, Janaka defeats and perhaps kills Sudhanva. He bestows the kingdom of Sankasya to Kushadhwaja.
Ancient Buddhist events at Sankassa
Sankissa received its fame from statements and claims recorded in the Tipitaka.
It was at Sankissa that the Buddha returned to earth, after preaching the Abhidhamma Pitaka in Tavatimsa, following the performance of the Twin Miracle under the Gandamba tree. As the time approached for the Buddha to leave Távatimsa, Moggallana (Anuruddha, according to Sutta Nipāta Commentary ii 570[3]) announced his coming return to the multitude, who had been waiting at Savatthi, fed by Culla Anathapindika, while Moggallana expounded the Dhamma. They then made their way to Sankissa. The descent of the Buddha took place on the day of the Mahapavarana festival. Sakka provides three ladders for the Buddha's descent from Sineru to the earth: on the right was a ladder of gold for the gods; on the left a silver ladder for Maha Brahma and his retinue; and in the middle a ladder of jewels for the Buddha. The assembled people covered the earth for thirty leagues round. There was a clear view of the nine Brahma worlds above and of Avici (a hell) below. The Buddha was accompanied by Pañcasikha, Mátali, Mahá Brahmá and Suyáma. Sariputta was the first to welcome him (followed by Uppalavanna,[4] and the Buddha preached the Law, starting with what was within the comprehension even of a puthujjana, and ending with what only a Buddha could understand.
On this occasion was preached the Parosahassa Játaka to proclaim to the multitude the unparalleled wisdom of Sáriputta.[1][4] It is said that the Buddha's descent to Sankissa had provided opportunity for Moggallána to show his eminence in iddhi, Anuruddha in dibbacakkhu, and Punna in skill in preaching, and the Buddha wished to give Sariputta a chance of shining in his wisdom.[1][4][5][6] He therefore asked of Sáriputta questions which no one else could answer. The opening words of the Sáriputta Sutta are supposed to refer to this descent from Tusita.
The site of the city gate of Sankissa is one of the "unchangeable" spots of the world (avijahitatthanam). All Buddhas descend at that spot to the world of men after preaching the Abhidhamma.[7][8] From Sankissa the Buddha went to Jetavana.[9]
A shrine was erected on the spot where the Buddha's right foot first touched the ground at Sankissa.[10] When the Chinese pilgrims, Xuanzang and Faxian, visited the place, they found three ladders, which had been built of brick and stone by the ancients, to commemorate the Buddha's descent, but the ladders were nearly sunk in the earth.[11][12]
There was, in the Buddha's time, a deer park at Sankissa where Suhemanta Thera heard the Buddha preach.[13] During the Vajjiputta controversy, Revata Thera, on his way from Soreyya to Sahajati, went through Sankissa. The road he took passed through Sankissa, Kannakujja, Udumbara and Aggalapura.[14] The excavations carried out in the place did not reveal any artifacts of importance.
An elephant capital from the period of the Mauryas was found at the site.[15]
maps.google The place where Lord Buddha show Twin Miracle (Pali:Yamaka Patihara). - Sravasti
maps.google The place where Lord Buddha came down from Daowadung. - Sankisa
January 31, 2023
sankissa, also, sankasia, sankassa, sankasya, ancient, city, india, city, came, into, prominence, time, gautama, buddha, according, buddhist, source, thirty, leagues, from, savatthi, after, gautama, buddha, mahaparinirvana, passing, away, king, ashoka, develop. Sankissa also Sankasia Sankassa and Sankasya was an ancient city in India The city came into prominence at the time of Gautama Buddha According to a Buddhist source it was thirty leagues from Savatthi 1 After the Gautama Buddha s Mahaparinirvana passing away king Ashoka developed this place and installed one of his famous Pillars of Ashoka in the city from which the elephant capital survives He also built a stupa and a temple commemorating the visit of the Buddha This temple exists even today and the ruins of the stupa are also present as a temple of Vishari Devi It is said that the name Visahari Devi is given to the mother of the Buddha SankissaSankisaElephant capital at Sankissa one of the Pillars of Ashoka 3rd century BCEDetail of the abacus Shown within IndiaShow map of IndiaSankissa Uttar Pradesh Show map of Uttar PradeshLocationFarrukhabad district Uttar Pradesh India Coordinates27 20 02 N 79 16 16 E 27 33389 N 79 27111 E 27 33389 79 27111 Coordinates 27 20 02 N 79 16 16 E 27 33389 N 79 27111 E 27 33389 79 27111TypeSettlement Descent of the Buddha from the Trayastrimsa Heaven at Sankissa 2 Currently it has ruins of old monasteries and Buddhist monuments It is rarely visited by pilgrims since it is difficult to go to and there are not many facilities After a long time Alexander Cunningham British discovered the place in 1842 Eighty seven years later Sir Anagarika Dharmapala Sri Lanka came here on spiritual quest In 1957 Panditha Madabawita Wijesoma Thero Sri Lanka came to Sankissa for few years and started a Buddhist school Wijesoma Widyalaya for poor people Sankissa is now identified with Sankisa Basantapura on the north bank of the Ikkhumati river Kalinadi between Kampil and Kannauj twenty three miles west of Fatehgarh twenty five south of Kaimganj and forty five north of Kannauj in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh state of India Contents 1 Sankissa at the time of Ramayana 2 Ancient Buddhist events at Sankassa 3 Architecture 4 Location 5 References 6 External linksSankissa at the time of Ramayana EditIt was known as Sankasya Nagar and was ruled by king Kushadhwaja was a younger brother of Janaka the father of Sita the female lead of Ramayana and wife of Lord Rama Once Sudhanva supposedly an evil king of Sankasya Nagar demands the hand of Sita from Janaka In a war that ensues Janaka defeats and perhaps kills Sudhanva He bestows the kingdom of Sankasya to Kushadhwaja Ancient Buddhist events at Sankassa EditSankissa received its fame from statements and claims recorded in the Tipitaka It was at Sankissa that the Buddha returned to earth after preaching the Abhidhamma Pitaka in Tavatimsa following the performance of the Twin Miracle under the Gandamba tree As the time approached for the Buddha to leave Tavatimsa Moggallana Anuruddha according to Sutta Nipata Commentary ii 570 3 announced his coming return to the multitude who had been waiting at Savatthi fed by Culla Anathapindika while Moggallana expounded the Dhamma They then made their way to Sankissa The descent of the Buddha took place on the day of the Mahapavarana festival Sakka provides three ladders for the Buddha s descent from Sineru to the earth on the right was a ladder of gold for the gods on the left a silver ladder for Maha Brahma and his retinue and in the middle a ladder of jewels for the Buddha The assembled people covered the earth for thirty leagues round There was a clear view of the nine Brahma worlds above and of Avici a hell below The Buddha was accompanied by Pancasikha Matali Maha Brahma and Suyama Sariputta was the first to welcome him followed by Uppalavanna 4 and the Buddha preached the Law starting with what was within the comprehension even of a puthujjana and ending with what only a Buddha could understand On this occasion was preached the Parosahassa Jataka to proclaim to the multitude the unparalleled wisdom of Sariputta 1 4 It is said that the Buddha s descent to Sankissa had provided opportunity for Moggallana to show his eminence in iddhi Anuruddha in dibbacakkhu and Punna in skill in preaching and the Buddha wished to give Sariputta a chance of shining in his wisdom 1 4 5 6 He therefore asked of Sariputta questions which no one else could answer The opening words of the Sariputta Sutta are supposed to refer to this descent from Tusita The site of the city gate of Sankissa is one of the unchangeable spots of the world avijahitatthanam All Buddhas descend at that spot to the world of men after preaching the Abhidhamma 7 8 From Sankissa the Buddha went to Jetavana 9 Descent to Sankissa in Bharhut Descent to Sankissa in the Greco Buddhist art of Gandhara Descent from Heaven 2nd century CE Mathura The Buddha Preaching in SankissaArchitecture Edit The Sankissa elephant under a protective roof Possible reconstitution of the elephant The Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi Temple pillar another Ashokan elephant pillar portrayed in a Bharhut relief 100 BCE A shrine was erected on the spot where the Buddha s right foot first touched the ground at Sankissa 10 When the Chinese pilgrims Xuanzang and Faxian visited the place they found three ladders which had been built of brick and stone by the ancients to commemorate the Buddha s descent but the ladders were nearly sunk in the earth 11 12 There was in the Buddha s time a deer park at Sankissa where Suhemanta Thera heard the Buddha preach 13 During the Vajjiputta controversy Revata Thera on his way from Soreyya to Sahajati went through Sankissa The road he took passed through Sankissa Kannakujja Udumbara and Aggalapura 14 The excavations carried out in the place did not reveal any artifacts of importance An elephant capital from the period of the Mauryas was found at the site 15 Geographical spread of known capitals of the pillars of Ashoka Sankissa elephant drawing Abacus in hellenistico persian style 16 Location Edit Map of Sankissa in relation to other Eight Great Places Buddhist pilgrimage sites and notable nearby cities Sankissa is about 250 km and is a 4 hours 30 minutes drive from Kanpur Airport References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sankissa a b c Dhammapadatthakatha iii 224 Marshall p 56 cf Visuddhi magga p 391 a b c Sutta Nipata Commentary ii 570 Jataka ed Fausboll iv 266 see also Jhanasodhana Sarabhamiga and Candabha Jatakas Buddhavamsa Commentary 106 247 Papanca Sudani Majjhima Commentary i 371 Jataka ed Fausboll i 193 Dhammapadatthakatha iii 227 Samuel Beal Romantic Legend of the Buddha i 203 Fa Hien p 24 Theragatha Commentary i 212 Vinaya Pitaka ed Oldenberg ii 299f Sen Dr A C 2008 Buddhist shrines in India Kolkota Maha Bodhi Book Agency p 63 ISBN 978 81 87032 78 6 John Irwin The true chronology of Ashokan PillarsExternal links EditEntry on Sankassa in the Buddhist Dictionary of Pali Proper Names Description of Sankasya by the Chinese pilgrim monk Faxian 399 414 AC Sankassa Video Documentary in Sinhalese Ancient Buddhist events at Sankissa http www palikanon com english pali names sa sankassa htm maps google The place where Lord Buddha show Twin Miracle Pali Yamaka Patihara Sravasti maps google The place where Lord Buddha came down from Daowadung Sankisa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sankissa amp oldid 1128242611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
