The Controversy on The Origin of Sattamahasatharna

Abstract

This study shows the origin of Sattamahasathana and the controversy on its origin by using Tripitaka and other related academic documents in researching.

Sattamahasathana is the place where the Lord Buddha having contemplative ecstasy after his enlightenment. The Tripitaka stated that the duration of Lord Buddha having contemplative ecstasy at Sattamahasathana is 4 weeks, which is 28 days (7 days per week) or about a month. Nevertheless, in the commentaries (aṭṭhakathā) written by Buddhaghosacariya, which he didn’t use Mahayana as the information because at that time Mahayana was flourish in the North of India and Theravada was flourish in the South of India. The aṭṭhakathā stated that the duration is 7 weeks, which is 49 days. However, the study shows that from the enlightenment day of the Lord Buddha, which is the 15th day of the waxing moon in the 6th lunar month to the day that the Lord Buddha taught the first sermon, which is the 15th day of the waxing moon in the 8th lunar month, is totally 2 months. From this matter, Buddhaghosacariya may found out that the duration that stated in the Tripitaka has been around one month missing and not stated any Lord Buddha routine during that missing period of time. Mahā-Aṭṭhakathā and Kurundī-Aṭṭhakathā, which are the ancient commentaries, and wrote commentaries explains about the missing time. He explained that after the Lord Buddha enlightened at the root of the Bodhi tree, he didn’t go straight to the Goatherd’s Banyan-tree, but he stays another three weeks around the Bodhi tree. The three weeks’ events are ‘Animissacetiya’ (Lord Buddha looked at the Bodhi Tree, without blinking his eyes), ‘Rattanacankamacetiya’ (Lord Buddha spent in meditating by walking up and down a long way in joy and ease) and ‘Ratanagharacetiya’ (Devas created a Treasure house, and Lord Buddha spent a week meditating upon Abhidhamma). Then, the Lord Buddha proceeded to a Banyan tree named Ajapala Nigrodha in week five for meditating, to another tree called Muccalinda in week six, and Rajayatala tree in week seven. Lastly, in week eight, the Lord Buddha taught the first sermon, which is the 15th day of the waxing moon in the 8th lunar month. These are the origin of the Sattamahasathana, which is the source of the Lord Buddha biography canon which has been written in Southeast Asia.