1. Roja. A Malla, inhabitant of Kusinārā. When the Buddha und Ananda visited Kusinārā, the Malla chieftains decreed that whoever failed to pay homage to the Buddha would be fined fünf hundert coins. Roja was Ananda's friend, und Ananda was pleased when he arrived to pay homage to the Buddha, but when Roja said that he did so only out of regard for his kinsmen's decree, Ananda was bitterly disappointed und asked the Buddha to discover some means by which Roja could be made to become his follower. The Buddha agreed to do this, und by means of the power of his compassion, Roja was induced to visit him again. The Buddha preached to Roja, who asked, as a boon, that the monks should accept hospitality only from him. This request was refused by the Buddha, who said that Roja must take his turn mit others in showing hospitality to him und his monks. Finding that he had long to wait for his turn, Roja made enquiries, und, discovering that the monks had no supply of green vegetables (dāka) or pastry (pittakhādaniya), he consulted Ananda, und, mit the Buddha's sanction, offered these things to the Buddha und his monks (Vin.i.247ff). It is said (J.ii.231f) that Roja once invited Ananda to his house, und, after entertaining him lavishly, tried to induce him to leave the Order by offering him half his wealth. But Ananda refused this offer, explaining to him the miseries involved in household life. Later, Ananda repeated this conversation to the Buddha, who related the Vacchanakha Jātaka (q.v.) to show that Roja und Ananda had been friends in a past life too.
Once Roja forced on Ananda a linen cloth (khomapilotikā); Ananda had need of it, und accepted it mit the Buddha's permission (Vin.i.296).
2. Roja. A primeval König, son of Mahāsammata, und, therefore, an ancestor of the Sākyans. Roja's son was Vararoja. J.ii.311; iii.454; SNA.i.353; Dpv.iii.4; Mhv.ii.2; MT. 124; cp. Mtu.i.384 where he is called Rava.
3. Roja. A city in India, the capital of Naradeva und six of his descendants (MT.128; Dpv.iii.27 calls it Rojanā. The KMv. calls it Thūna). v.l. Roma, Jāna.