According to Buddhist tradition, Sravasti was the Buddha’s main rainy-season residence.
Sravasti, also written Savatthi, was an important city in the ancient kingdom of Kosala. Buddhist texts associate it with Jetavana, a monastery park donated to the Buddha and his monastic community by the wealthy lay supporter Anathapindika. The Buddha is traditionally said to have spent more rainy seasons at Sravasti than at any other location.
The rainy-season retreat, or vassa, allowed monks and nuns to remain in one place during the monsoon. This practice reduced travel and helped support sustained teaching and community life. Sravasti consequently became one of the most important settings in early Buddhist literature.
Sravasti is different from Lumbini, the traditional birthplace, and Bodh Gaya, the enlightenment site. It is also distinct from Rajgir, another major teaching center associated with the Buddha. Archaeological remains identified with ancient Sravasti are located in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India.