In the Buddha’s lifetime, the people of Aranyakham Village were in danger. Many people died from cholera. They asked the Buddha for help to stop the disease while he was staying at the Veluvana Monastery. Accompanied by Ananda Thera and other monks, the Buddha went to the village. On the next day, the people offered the Buddha and the monks food and water and, after their meal, they dedicated the merit derived from offering food to the spirits of lands and buildings and other sambhavesi (spirits seeking rebirth). Thereafter the situation returned to normal.