PÃÂvÃÂ was an important city of the Malla tribe of ancient India at the time of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha. It is located about southeast of Kushinagar in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
The precise location of ancient PÃÂvÃÂ is not known with certainty. Likely candidates include:
When the Buddha reached his eightieth year, he felt that his time in this world was approaching an end. At that time, according to the MahÃÂparinibbÃÂá¹Âa Sutta (Sutta 16 of the Dëgha NikÃÂya), he and some of his disciples undertook a months-long journey that would take them from RÃÂjagá¹Âha, through PÃÂá¹Âaliputta, VesÃÂli, Bhoganagara, and PÃÂvÃÂ, to their final destination at Kuà Âinagara. It was at PÃÂvàthat Cunda, a resident of PÃÂvÃÂ, invited the group to a meal that featured a food called sukaramaddava. This would prove to be the Buddha's last meal, as he was afflicted by a painful illness resembling dysentery soon after consuming the meal. It was on this occasion that the Cunda Sutta (AN 6:46) was preached. At that time, the Mallas had just completed their new meeting hall. Upon their invitation, the Buddha consecrated it by first occupying it and then preaching in it. After the Buddha had finished speaking, one of his leading disciples, à ÂÃÂriputra, recited the Saá¹ gëti Sutta (DN 33) to the assembled monks. After the meal, the Buddha crossed the Kakkuttha River (now called the Khanua River) and completed his journey to Kushinagar. Soon after his arrival in Kushinagar, the Buddha attained parinirvana. After the Buddha's cremation, the Mallas of PÃÂvàclaimed a share in his relics. A Brahmin named Drona satisfied their claim, and a stupa was erected in PÃÂvàover their share of the relics.
Besides being a center of Buddhists, PÃÂvàwas also a center of Jainism. The PasÃÂdika Sutta (DN 29) records the Buddha at PÃÂvàat the time the leader of the Jains attained parinirvana: "Once the Lord was staying among the Sakyans (at PÃÂvÃÂ) ... in the mango-grove belonging to the Vedhanna family (the Samagama). At that time the Nigantha NÃÂtaputta (or MahÃÂvëra, the leader of the Jains) had just died ... And at his death the Niganthas (Jains) were split into two parties ...".