The name Jetavana is derived from words which mean "the grove (vana) of Jeta". Details of how this came about are provided in the following extracts.

Savatthi (Sanskrit Sravasti), the capital of Kosala, was said to have derived its name from the fact that everything was available there (sabbam atthi). It was indeed one of the wealthiest and most vibrant cities in the Middle Land.

The Buddha visited Savatthi several times before finally making it his headquarters, in the twentieth year of his enlightenment. From then on, he spent every rains retreat except his last in the environs of the city. The Buddha had probably decided to limit his wanderings at this time due to advancing age (he was fifty-six) and he no doubt chose Savatthi as his base because of the generous support given to him by the city's wealthiest merchants.

While in Rajagaha on business, Anathapindika went to visit his brother-in-law, whom he found so preoccupied with making arrangements for a feast that he failed to welcome Anathapindika in his usual friendly manner. "What is the big occasion?" Anathapindika asked. "A wedding? A visit by the king?" His father-in-law replied that he was preparing a meal for the Buddha and his monks. Simply hearing the word "Buddha" filled Anathapindika with such joy that he expressed his desire to go and meet this "Buddha" there and then. Being told that now was not the proper time, he decided to go and see the Buddha the next day, first thing in the morning.

So overjoyed was Anathapindika at the rare privilege of meeting a fully enlightened human being, and so expectant was he, that he woke up three times during the night thinking it was near daybreak. Finally, he set out before dawn, but as he left the town and entered the jungle, he realised that it would still be some time before the light appeared, and he began to get frightened. He hesitated and considered turning back when suddenly a yakkha appeared, illuminating the whole area and encouraging him to continue. Anathapindika and the Buddha met in the early morning light, and later Anathapindika invited the Buddha to spend the next rains retreat in Savatthi. The Buddha agreed, making it clear that he expected Anathapindika to provide him and his monks with a quiet place to reside in during his stay: "Householder, the Tathagata delights in empty places." "I understand, Lord. I understand, Happy One."

When Anathapindika arrived back in Savatthi, he began looking around for a place to accommodate the Buddha. The most suitable place proved to be a pleasure park just outside Savatthi owned by Prince Jeta. Anathapindika approached Prince Jeta and asked him what price he wanted for his park, but the prince replied that he was not interested in selling. But Anathapindika kept insisting that Prince Jeta name a price, and eventually, as much out of exasperation as to put him off, the prince quoted an unrealistically high price of a hundred thousand gold pieces. To his astonishment, Anathapindika accepted. Soon servants arrived with carts full of gold coins and began spreading them on the ground. At this point, Prince Jeta relented, realising how determined Anathapindika was to have the park, and the rest of the money was used to build a large monastic complex. The Vinaya describes the complex as consisting of halls, monastery buildings, cells, porches, attendance halls, fire rooms, toilets, covered walkways, wells, bathrooms, lotus ponds and sheds. And in honour of the two men who were responsible for its coming into being, the place was called Jetavana Anathapindikarama (Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's park).

Extracted from (Venerable) S. Dhammika, Middle Land, Middle Way - A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Buddha’s India, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 1992. ISBN 955-24-0095-3.

...Other generous donations were to follow. One came from Anathapindika, a layman so renowned for his generosity that he had been given the title `Feeder of the Poor’. He first heard the Buddha preach the Dhamma in Rajagaha. Inspired by what he heard, he invited him to spend the next (fourth) Rains Retreat his own city of Savatthi, the capital of the neighbouring kingdom of Kosala, which was then ruled by King Pasenadi. Returning there in advance, Anathapindika looked around for a suitable place nearby where the bhikkhus could stay. He lighted upon a pleasure-garden owned by a certain nobleman named Jeta and accordingly known as the Jetavana or `Jeta's Grove’. On being asked so sell however - perhaps half in jest, not really wanting to let the property go - Jeta named a preposterous price: the entire grove was to be covered with gold pieces. Anathapindika held Jeta to his price, however, and cartloads of gold pieces were brought; they covered all but a tiny space. Impressed by Anathapindika’s piety, Jeta said. `Enough do not cover that space. It shall be my gift’.

In due course another monastery was built here; and later, also near Savatthi, a third monastery: the Pubbarama or `Eastern park’. This was donated by a generous laywoman named Visakha. When the Buddha settled permanently at Savatthi, he spent alternate Rain Retreats at the Jetavana and the Pubbarama.

These generous bequests demonstrate how, from the very start, the Sangha was supported by a sympathetic lay community. In return the Buddha gave discourses to lay people and, the general monastic bias of early Buddhism notwithstanding, certainly encouraged them to practice to as great an extent as they were able. His qualified bhikkhus of course gave teachings too. This reciprocal relationship, which so clearly illustrates the Buddhist virtue of dana or giving, survives in many Buddhist countries to this day. Besides food and shelter, the laity may donate cloth for robes, medicines and other requisites to the Sangha.

Extracted from John Snelling, The Buddhist Handbook, Rider, London, 1992.

JETAVANA. Famous Buddhist monastery in Sravasti. This monastery was donated to the sangha by Anathapindika, a wealthy banker of Sravasti in Kosala. He was a Buddhist lay disciple (upasaka) who sought to share his wealth with the religious community. The site for the monastery was selected by the Buddha’s close disciple Sariputra (Sariputta), and the Buddha is reported to have spent the last twenty-five rains retreats of his ministry at Jetavana

Extracted from Charles S. Prebish, Historical Dictionary of Buddhism, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, India, 1993.