Maps of Ancient Buddhist India
Tathàgatassa Pure Caritaü
The Realised One's Early Career
The map shown above is approx. 550 km from East to West and 400 km from North to South
What follows is based on the account in the Mahàkhandhaka section of the Vinaya Mahàvagga, and the traditional histories such as the Jàtaka Nidànakathà, and the Jinavaüsa:
After Awakening at the foot of the Bodhi tree in Uruvelà the Buddha spent the following 7 weeks in a number of locations in the same area. He then travelled to Isipatana, where his former companions, the group of five (paÿcavaggiya) ascetics were staying. The walking tour appears to have taken around a week, as he arrived on the Full Moon night of âsàëha.
That night he preached his first recorded discourse, and thereby set the Dhamma-Wheel rolling, at the end of which Aÿÿàta Koõóaÿÿà became the first person to attain Path and Fruit in the present Sàsana. In the next few days he and his four companions all became Worthy Ones (Arahanta). The Buddha spent the first Vassàna in the Deer-Park at Isipatana, and in a short time converted first Yasa, and then 50 of his friends, who also all became Worthy Ones.
At the end of the Rain's Retreat the Buddha walked back to Uruvelà, where he converted the three Kassapa brothers and their 1,000 disciples. From there he travelled to the Magadhan capital Ràjagaha, where he was presented with his first monastery, the Bamboo Wood (Veëuvana) by King Bimbisàra.
Five months had passed since leaving Isipatana and it was now Springtime. Kàëudàyã arrived from Kapilavatthu, and invited the Buddha to return to his home town. There he converted his former Wife, his Father, and ordained his Son, and other family members, including Nanda and ânanda.
While he was there the rich merchant Anàthapiõóika arrived and invited him to Sàvatthã, where he bought and presented him with the Jeta's Wood monastery. At this point the early histories break off, perhaps because the Sàsana was safely established by this time. Although we know a lot about the Buddha's ministry, the chronology is not picked up again until the Mahàparinibbànasutta opens about one year before the Final Emancipation at Kusinàrà.