A city of the Mallas which the Buddha visited during his last journey, going there from Bhogagāma and stopping at Cunda's mango grove.
Cunda lived in Pāvā 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 Pāvā the Buddha journeyed on to Kusinārā, crossing the Kakkutthā on the way. D.ii.126 ff.; Ud.viii.5; the road from Pāvā to Kusināra is mentioned several times in the books - e.g., Vin.ii.284; D.ii.162.
According to the Sangīti Sutta, at the time the Buddha was staying at Pāvā, 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, Sāriputta recited the Sahgīti Sutta to the assembled monks.
Pāvā was also a centre of the Niganthas and, at the time mentioned above, Nigantha Nāthaputta had just died at Pāvā and his followers were divided by bitter wrangles (D.iii.210). Cunda Samanuddesa was spending his rainy season at Pāvā, and he reported to the Buddha, who was at Sāmagāma, news of the Niganthas' quarrels (Ibid., 117f.; M.ii.243f).
The distance from Pāvā to Kusināra was three gāvutas. 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 Udāna (i.7) of the Buddha having stayed at the Ajakapālaka cetiya in Pāvā. This may have been during a previous visit.
After the Buddha's death, the Mallas of Pāvā claimed a share in his relics. Dona satisfied their claim, and a Thūpa was erected in Pāvā over their share of the relics (D.ii.167; Bu.xxviii.3).
The inhabitants of Pāvā are called Pāveyyakā.
Pāvā was the birthplace of Khandasumana.