z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 08.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 533
| Col1 | THE MEETING OF THOSE NEAR AND DEAR 533 |
|---|---|
| BOOK VII | |
§ 1. The Centres of His Preachings
It is not that after the appointment of the missionaries the Lord sat at one place. He too continued to be his own missionary.
The Lord seems to have made certain places chief centres of his missionary work.
Of such centres, the chief were Shravasti and Rajagraha.
He visited Shravasti about 75 times and Rajagraha about 24 times.
Certain other places were made minor centres.
They were Kapilavastu, which he visited 6 times, Vesali which he visited 6 times, and Kamassadhamma,
4 times.
§ 2. The Places He Visited
Besides these main and minor centres the Blessed Lord visited many other places during the course of his missionary tour.
He visited Ukkatha, Nadika, Sal, Assapura, Ghoshitaram, Nalanda, Appana, Etuma.
He visited Opasad, Iccha-naukal, Chandal Kuppa, Kushinara.
He visited Devadaha, Pava, Ambasanda, Setavya, Anupiya and Ugunma.
The names of the places he visited show that he travelled over the Sakya Desa, the Kuru Desa and Anga Desa.
Roughly speaking, he travelled over the whole of Northern India.
These appear to be a few places. But what distance do they cover? Rajagraha from Lumbini is not less than
250 miles. This just gives an idea of distances.
- These distances the Lord walked on foot. He did not even use a bullock-cart.
VII