• Nāla, Nālaka, Nālika

A brahmin village in Magadha, not far from Rājagaha. It was the township of the Upatissas (hence also called Upatissagāma), and it was there that Sāriputta and other members of his family were born (*1).

It was also the birthplace of Mahā Gavaccha (ThagA.ii.57). Sāriputta seems to have continued to reside there from time to time, even after he joined the Order (*2), and when his death drew near, he went back to Nālakagāma and, having made his mother a sotāpanna, died in the room where he was born (*3).

(*1) SA.ii.172; ThagA.i.108; ii.93; ThigA.162; VvA.149, 156, 158, 164; Mtu (iii. 56) calls it Nālanda.

(*2) See his discussions with Jambukhādaka (S.iv.251) and with Sāmandakāni (A.v.120,121); DhA.iv.164f.

(*3) S. v.161; J. i.391; v.125; UdA.322, etc.