Cattaka

Cattaka is an ancient kingdom mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures, specifically in the Pali Canon and the Mahayana sutras. It is often referred to as a region in northern India, located in the ancient region of Gandhara.

Cattaka is said to be a kingdom that existed during the period of the Buddha's lifetime, around the 6th to 5th centuries BCE. The kingdom is known from a few texts, including the Digha Nikaya and the Anguttara Nikaya, which describe it as a place of significant spiritual and cultural importance.

According to Buddhist accounts, Cattaka was a prosperous and learned kingdom, where many monks and sages resided. The Buddha himself is said to have visited the kingdom on several occasions, preaching and teaching his disciples. The kingdom is also associated with the activities of the monk Mahamoggallana, who is said to have crisscrossed the kingdom to spread the Buddha's teachings.

The exact location of Cattaka remains unclear, with various scholars proposing different sites, including the modern-day regions of Kashmir or the Hunza Valley. Some have suggested that the name Cattaka may be an epithet or a synonym for the kingdom of Gandhara, while others have located it further afield.

The kingdom is significant in Buddhist historiography, providing insight into the spread and development of Buddhism in ancient India. However, much of the information available on Cattaka is based on incomplete and potentially mythologized sources, and its historical accuracy remains a topic of debate among scholars.