A city, thirty leagues from Sávatthi. (DhA.iii.224). It was there that the Buddha returned to earth, after preaching the Abhidhamma Pitaka in Távatimsa, following the performance of the Twin Miracle under the Gandamba tree. As the time approached for the Buddha to leave Távatimsa , Moggallána (Anuruddha, according to SNA.ii.570; cf. Vsm., p.391) announced his coming return to the multitude, who had been waiting at Sávatthi, fed by Culla Anáthapindika, while Moggallána expounded the Dhamma. They then made their way to Sankassa. The descent of the Buddha took place on the day of the Mahápavárana festival. Sakka provides three ladders for the Buddha's descent from Sineru. to the earth: on the right was a ladder of gold for the gods; on the left a silver ladder for Mahá Brahmá and his retinue; and in the middle a ladder of jewels for the Buddha. The assembled people covered the earth for thirty leagues round. There was a clear view of the nine Brahma worlds above and of Avíci below. The Buddha was accompanied by Pańcasikha, Mátali, Mahá Brahmá and Suyáma. Sáriputta was the first to welcome him (followed by Uppalavanná, SNA.ii.570), and the Buddha preached the Law, starting with what was within the comprehension even of a puthujjana, and ending with what only a Buddha could understand. On this occasion was preached the Parosahassa Játaka (q.v.) to proclaim to the multitude the unparalleled wisdom of Sáriputta (DhA.iii.224ff.; see also SNA.ii.570). It is said' that the Buddha's descent to Sankassa had provided opportunity for Moggallána to show his eminence in iddhi, Anuruddha in dibbacakkhu, and Punna in skill in preaching, and the Buddha wished to give Sáriputta a chance of shining in his wisdom. (Ibid., loc. cit.; J.iv.266; see also Jhánasodhana, Sarabhamiga, and Candábha Játakas). He therefore asked of Sáriputta questions which no one else could answer. The opening words of the Sáriputta Sutta (q.v.) are supposed to refer to this descent from Tusita (sic). The site of the city gate of Sankassa is one of the "unchangeable" spots of the world (avijahitatthánam). All Buddhas descend at that spot to the world of men after preaching the Abhidhamma (BuA.106, 247; MA.i.371, etc.). From Sankassa the Buddha went to Jetavana (J.i.193). A shrine was erected on the spot where the Buddha's right foot first touched the ground at Sankassa (DhA.iii.227). When the Chinese pilgrims, Hiouen Thsang and Fa Hien, visited the place, they found three ladders, which had been built of brick and stone by the ancients, to commemorate the Buddha's descent, but the ladders were nearly sunk in the earth. (Beal, op. cit., i.203; Fa Hien, p.24).
There was, in the Buddha's time, a deer park at Sankassa where Suhemanta Thera heard the Buddha preach (ThagA.i.212). During the Vajjiputta controversy, Revata Thera, on his way from Soreyya to Sahájáti, went through Sankassa. The road he took passed through Sankassa, Kannakujja, Udumbará and Aggálapura (Vin.ii.299f).
Sankassa is now identified with Sankissa Basantapura on the north bank of the Ikkhumatí (Kálínadí), between Atranji and Kanoj, twenty-three miles west of Fatehgarh and forty five north of Kanoj.