1. Anga. (siehe auch Angā).-One of the stock list of the sixteen Powers or Great Countries (Mahājanapadā), erwähnt in the Pitakas. z.B., A.i.213; iv.252, 256, 260.
The countries erwähnt are Anga, Magadha, Kāsī, Kosala, Vajji, Mallā, Cetī, Vamsā, Kuru, Pañcāla, Macchā, Sūrasena, Assaka, Avantī, Gandhāra, und Kamboja. Other similar lists occur an anderer Stelle, z.B. D.ii.200 (where zehn countries are erwähnt); siehe auch Mtu.i.34 und i.198; und Lal.24(22).
It was to the east of Magadha, from which it was separated by the River Campā, und had as its capital city Campā, near the modern Bhagalpur (Cunningham, pp. 546-7). Other cities erwähnt are Bhaddiya (DA.i.279; DhA.i.384) und Assapura (M.i.271).
The country is generally referred to by the name of its people, the Angā, though occasionally (z.B., DhA.i.384) the name Angarattha is used. In the Buddha's time it was subject to Magadha, (ThagA.i.548) whose König Bimbisāra was, we are told, held in esteem auch by the people of Anga (MA.i.394), und the people of the two countries offensichtlich used to pay frequent visits to each other (J.ii.211). We never hear of its having regained its former independence, und traditions of war zwischen the two countries are erwähnt (z.B., J.iv.454; J.v.316; J.vi.271).
In der Buddha's time the Angarājā was just a wealthy nobleman, und he is erwähnt merely as having granted a pension to a Brahmin (M.ii.163). The people of Anga und Magadha are generally erwähnt together, so we may gather that by der Buddha's time they had become one people. They provide Uruvela-Kassapa mit offerings for seingreat sacrifice (Vin.i.27). It was their custom to offer an annual sacrifice to Mahā-Brahmā in the hope of gaining reward a hundert tausend fold. On one occasion Sakka appears in person und goes mit them to der Buddha so that they may not waste their energies in futile sacrifices (SA.i.269-70).
Several discourses were preached in the Anga country, unter ihnen being the Sonadanda Sutta und the two Assapura Suttas (Mahā- und Cūla-). The Mahāgovinda Sutta seems to indicate that once, in the past, Dhatarattha was König of Anga. But this, perhaps, refers to another country (Dial.ii.270 n.; siehe auch The Rāmāyana i.8, 9, 17, 25).
Sona Kolivisa, before he entered the Order, was a squire (paddhagu) of Anga. Thag.v.632.
2. Anga. König.-Chief lay supporter of Sumana Buddha (BuA.130); the Buddhavamsa mentions Varuna und Sarana as Sumana's aggupatthākā und Udena as upatthāka. Bu.v.28.
3. Anga.-A König of Benares on whose feet hair grew. He inquired of the Brahmanen the way to heaven, und was told to retire to the Wald und tend the sacred fire. He went to Himavā mit viele cows und women und did as he was counselled. The milk und ghee left over from sein sacrifices were thrown away, und from them arose viele minor rivers, the Ganges itself, und even the sea. Später he wurde Indra's companion. J.vi.203
4. Anga.-König of the Anga country, zwischen whom und König Magadha there was constant war, mit varying fortunes. In the end, Magadha, mit der Hilfe von the Nāga König Campeyya, seized Anga und slew him. J.iv.453.
5. Anga.-One of the Pacceka Buddhas erwähnt in the list in the Apadana Kommentar. ApA.i.107.
6. Angā.-Chieftains of Anga, so called, according to the Digha Nikāya Kommentar (i.279), because of the beauty of their limbs. Their name was customarily (rūlhi-vasena) used to denote their country.