A

B

C

D

E

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

Y

?

Koṭisanthāra

In the Jātaka stories mention is made (e.g., J.iii.18; 375, 397; J.iv.113) of the Buddha when he wished to address the monks of Jetavana, asking Ānanda to summon them to the Koṭisanthāra and ordering that a seat be prepared for him at the entrance to the Gandhakuṭi.

Koṭisanthāra was probably the name given to that part of the Jetavana grounds just outside the Buddha’s own apartments. It may have been so called in reference to the fact that Anāthapiṇḍika bought the land by spreading on it ten million ¹ gold coins (kahāpaṇa) “kahāpana-koṭi-santhārena” (J.i.94). Or the name may have been restricted to the part actually covered by the pieces of money, for we are told (Vin.ii.159) that the money was not sufficient to cover the whole of the ground. There were buildings in the Koṭisanthāra, the monks living in these buildings being referred to as “Antokoṭisanthāre vasantā.” (e.g., J.iv.113) Koṭisanthāra is generally translated as “The Golden Pavement”, (e.g., Jāt. Trs.iii.12; iv.71), which seems to be a wrong rendering.

¹ A koṭi = ten million. If the coins were 1cm² this number would cover 1,000m² or a veranda of 20m x 50m (ed.)