Missioners Place

Majjhantika Thera Kashmir and Gandhar

Mahadeva Thera Mahimsaka Mandala

Rakkhita Thera Vanavasi

Yonaka Dhammarakkhita Thera Aparantaka

Mahadhammarakkhita Thera Maharattha

Maharakkhita Thera Yonakaloka

Majjhima Thera Himavantapadesa

Sonaka and Uttara Theras Suvanabhumi

Mahinda, Itthiya, Uttiya, Sambala and Bhaddasala Theras Tambapannidipa

It is stated that each mission consisted of five Theras so that it would be possible to perform the Upasampada ceremony in remote districts.

1. Kashmir is situated in the northwest of India. Peshavar and Ravapindi in north Punjab embrace Gandhara. Majjhantika Thera arrived here and subjugated the Naga King Aravala by his psychic powers and preached the Asivisopama Sutta.

2. Mahimsaka Mandala is identified the modern Mysore in South India. According to some it is a country south of the Vindhya Mountains. The Devaduta Sutta was preached here.

3. Vanavasi is North Kanara situated in South India. Even today there is a city called Vanavasi in this country. The Anamatagga Sutta Sutta ws the subject of the sermon.

4. Aparanta (Western End) is supposed to be Western India. According to the Puranas one of the five countries that existed in ancient India was Aparanta. Its capital was port Supparaka, modern Sopara. North Gujerat, Katiyavar, Kach, Sindh are included in Aparanta. The discourse that was delivered here was the Aggikkandhopama Sutta.

5. Maharattha is modern Maharashtra, which embraces mid-West India. The Maha Narada-Kassapa Jataka was delivered here.

6. Yonakarattha is the kingdom of the Greeks. It must be the Greek kingdom that existed in West India. According to some it comprises Egypt, Syria and Greece. The Kalakarama Sutta was delivered here.

7. It is stated that the Arahants Kassapagotta, Alakadeva, Mahadeva and Dundubhissara accompanied the Arahant Majjhima to the Himalaya region and preached the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta.

8. Some identify Suvannabhumi with Burma. Some say it is Karna Suvarna situated in Bengal and some say it is Hiranyavaha district along the banks of the Sona River. The brahmajala Sutta was the subject of the discourses.

9. Tambapannidipa is Sri Lanka (Ceylon).