A monastery in Sāvatthi, near Jetavana, built by Pasenadi (J.ii.15). It was to the south east of the city, corresponding to Thūpārāma in Anurādhapura. (MA.ii.1021). It was there that the Nandakovāda Sutta was taught (M.iii.271). This was probably the monastery built for nuns by Pasenadi, at the Buddha’s suggestion, after the assault on Uppalavaṇṇā in Andhavana, referred to in the Dhammapada Commentary (DhA.ii.52).

The Saṃyuttanikāya Commentary, however, gives a different account (SA.iii.218 f; the introductory story of the Bharu Jātaka; J.ii.170, gives the same account but omits the statement that the king built a vihāra). It states that the heretics, jealous of the Buddha and his popularity, desired to build a monastery for themselves in close proximity to Jetavana, and, in order that he might raise no objections, they presented Pasenadi with one hundred thousand.

When the Buddha discovered their intentions, owing to the great uproar they made while preparing the preliminaries of the building, he sent Ānanda to the king, asking to have it stopped. However, Pasenadi refused to see him or Sāriputta or Moggallāna. (It was as a punishment for this discourtesy that he lost the throne before his death.) Thereupon the Buddha went himself. Pasenadi received him and entertained him to a meal, at the end of which the Buddha taught him the Bharu Jātaka (q.v.) on the evils of bribery and of creating an opportunity for virtuous people to quarrel among themselves. Pasenadi was filled with remorse; he had the heretics expelled, and, realising that he had never built a monastery, proceeded to construct the Rājakārāma.

The Saṃyuttanikāya (S.v.360 ff ) contains several discourses taught by the Buddha at the Rājakārāma.