Beḷuva
A village near Vesāli, where the Buddha spent his last Rainy Season (vassa). This was ten months before his death.¹ According to the Commentaries ² the Buddha did not go straight from Beḷuva to Vesāli, but turned back to Sāvatthi. He fell grievously ill during this period, but, by a great effort of will, overcame his sickness. During this sickness Sākka ministered to the Buddha, waiting on him and carrying on his head the Buddha’s stools when he suffered from acute dysentery.³
It was at this time that the Buddha, in answer to a question by Ānanda, said that he had kept nothing back from his disciples and had no special instructions for the Order to follow after his death. Each disciple must work out his own salvation.⁴
Ānanda is also mentioned as having stayed at Beḷuva after the Buddha’s death. The householder Dasama of Aṭṭhakanagara sought him there, amid their conversation is recorded in the Aṭṭhakanagara Sutta.⁵
Beḷuva was a small village, and when the Buddha was there the monks stayed in Vesāli. Beḷuva was just outside the gates of Vesāli⁶ and was to the south of this city.⁷
The Theragāthā ⁸ states that Anuruddha died at Veḷuvagāma in the Vajjī country. This probably refers to Beḷuvagāma, in which case Veḷuva is a variant reading.
¹ SA.iii.198. ² E.g., UdA.322; SA.iii.172. ³ DhA.iii.269 f.
⁴ D.ii.98 ff; S.v.151 ff. ⁵ M.i.349 ff; A.v.342 ff. ⁶ SA.iii.165.
⁷ MA.ii.571. ⁸ vs.919.