A city of the Mallas which the Buddha visited during his last journey, going there from Bhogagáma and stopping at Cunda's mango grove.
Cunda lived in Pává and invited the Buddha to a meal, which proved to be his last. It was on this occasion that the Cunda Sutta (1) was preached (SNA.i. 159). From Pává the Buddha journeyed on to Kusinárá, crossing the Kakkutthá on the way. D.ii.126 ff.; Ud.viii.5; the road from Pává to Kusinára is mentioned several times in the books - e.g., Vin.ii.284; D.ii.162.
According to the Sangíti Sutta, at the time the Buddha was staying at Pává, the Mallas had just completed their new Mote hall, Ubbhataka, and, at their invitation, the Buddha consecrated it by first occupying it and then preaching in it. After the Buddha had finished speaking, Sáriputta recited the Sahgíti Sutta to the assembled monks.
Pává was also a centre of the Niganthas and, at the time mentioned above, Nigantha Náthaputta had just died at Pává and his followers were divided by bitter wrangles (D.iii.210). Cunda Samanuddesa was spending his rainy season at Pává, and he reported to the Buddha, who was at Sámagáma, news of the Niganthas' quarrels (Ibid., 117f.; M.ii.243f).
The distance from Pává to Kusinára was three gávutas. It is said (UdA.403) that on the way between these two places, the Buddha had to stop at twenty five resting places, so faint and weary was he.
Mention is made in the Udána (i.7) of the Buddha having stayed at the Ajakapálaka cetiya in Pává. This may have been during a previous visit.
After the Buddha's death, the Mallas of Pává claimed a share in his relics. Dona satisfied their claim, and a Thúpa was erected in Pává over their share of the relics (D.ii.167; Bu.xxviii.3).
The inhabitants of Pává are called Páveyyaká.
Pává was the birthplace of Khandasumana.