A grove in the Bhagga country. It contained a Deer Park wherein the Buddha stayed, on Suṃsumāragiri. Nearby was the house in which lived Nakulapitā and Nakulamātā.¹ Once, when the Buddha was at Bhesakalāvana, he saw, with his divine-eye, Anuruddha dwelling in the Pācīnavaṃsadāya in the Ceti country, and appeared before him to encourage him in his meditations.² The palace Kokanada, built for Prince Bodhi, was in the neighbourhood of the grove.³

It was while staying in this grove that Mahā-Moggallāna was molested by Māra and he taught the Māratajjaniya Sutta.⁴

Siṅgālapitā is said to have retired to Bhesakalāvana for his meditations.⁶

The grove received its name from the fact that its presiding spirit was a yakkhiṇī called Bhesākalā.⁶⁶

According to the Buddhavaṃsa Commentary,⁷ the Buddha spent the eighth Rainy Seasons (vassa) at Bhesakalāvana. The Divyāvadāna calls it Bhīsanikāvana.⁸