A small river dividing the countries of the Sākyā and Koliyā. A dam was constructed across the river, and the people on the two sides used the water to cultivate their fields. Once, in the month of Jeṭṭhamūla, there was a drought, and a violent quarrel arose between the two peoples for the use of the water. A battle was imminent, when the Buddha, seeing what was about to happen, appeared in the air between the opposing forces in the middle of the river and convinced them of the folly of killing each other for the sake of a little water. It is said that he taught on this occasion the Attadaṇḍa Sutta and the Phandana, the Laṭukika, and the Sammodamāna Jātaka stories (also known as the Vaṭṭaka Jātaka).

To show their gratitude to the Buddha for his timely intervention, the Sākyā and the Koliyā gave two hundred and fifty young men from each clan to be ordained under him. SNA.i.358; cp. J.v.412; DhA.iii.254 ff. The accounts differ in details; the Jātaka account, which is the longest, mentions other Jātaka stories: Duddubha and Rukkhadhamma. DA.ii.672 f. and SA.i.53 ff substitute Paṭhavi-udrīyana for Duddubha. However, see under these Jātaka stories.

The Rohiṇī is identified with a small stream that joins the Rapti at Goruckpore. It is now called the Rowai or Rohwaini. For details see Cunningham, Arch. Survey of India xii.190 ff.

Dhammapāla says (ThagA.i.501) that the Rohiṇī flows from north to south and that Rājagaha lies to the south east of it.