Rajgir
House of the king
Rajgir, which means 'house of the king', was the ancient capital
city of the Magadha kings until the 5th century BC when Ajatashatru
moved the capital to Pataliputra. In those days, it was called
Rajgrih, which translates as the home of Royalty.
Jarasandha who hailed from this place had defeated Krishna
18 times because of which Krishna is also called 'ranchhod' (person
who runs away from fight). Mahabharata recounts a wrestling match
between Bhima, one of the pandavas, and Jarasandha, the then king of
Rajgir. Jarasandha was invincible as his body could rejoin any
dismembered limbs. According to the legend, Bhim split Jarasandha
into two and threw the two halves facing opposite to each other so
that they could not join. There is a famous Jarasandha's Akhara(place
where you practice martial arts).
It is sacred to the memory of the founders of both the religions:
Buddhism and Jainism. It was here that Gautam Buddha
spent several months meditating, and preaching at Griddhkuta, (รข€˜Hill
of the Vultures'). He also delivered some of his famous sermons and
converted King Bimbisara of Magadha and countless others to his
religion.
Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in
the Indian state of Bihar. The city of Rajgir (ancient Rajagriha) was
the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would
eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is
unknown, although ceramics dating to c. 1000 B.C. have been found
there. The epic Mahabharata calls it Girivraja.
Rajgir
Rajgir, which means 'house
of the king', was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until
the 5th century BC when Ajatsatru moved the capital to Pataliputra.
Forty-six km from Bodhgaya, the town is sacred to the memory of the
founders of both Buddhism and Jainism and houses historical remains
like the cyclopean wall and marks engraved in rocks.
Rajgir
is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site since the Buddha spent 12
years here, and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha was
hosted here at the Saptaparni caves. Lord Buddha often went into
retreat at the Jivkamaravana monastery in a beautiful orchard. One of
his most devoted and prosperous devotees, surgeon Jivaka also lived
here. The rich merchant community here soon became the Buddha's
followers and built many structures of typical Buddhist architecture.
Lord Buddha converted the Mauryan king Bimbisara, one of his
most celebrated followers, to Buddhism at the Griddhakuta hill, where
he delivered many of his sermons as well. The Japanese have built a
Stupa on top of the Ratnagiri hill, linked by a rope way. It was here
that the teachings of Buddha were penned down for the first time.
Rajgir is also an important place of pilgrimage for the Hindus and
Jains. Other places to be visited are Bimbisara ka jail, Jarasandha
ka akhara, Venuvana, Karand tank, Maniyar math, Swamabhandar cave,
Pippala cave, Viswa Shanti Stupa, the famous hot water springs and
ruins of an old fort.
Location and History
The
Buddha lived in the sixth century BC Mahavir was born in 567 BC and
the traveller in Bihar will encounter them both constantly. Rajgir is
10 kms. south of Nalanda and sacred to the memory of the founder of
both Buddhism and Jainism Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat
during the rainy season here, and use to meditate and preach on
Groddhkuta, the "Hill of the Vultures". Lord Mahavir spent
14 years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda.
It was in Rajgrih
that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted
king Bimbisara of the Magadh Kingdom and countless others to his
creed. Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village today, but
vestives of a legendary and historical past remain, like the
cyclopean wall that encircles the town and the marks engraved in rock
that local folklore ascribes to Lord Krishna's chariot. This legend,
like many others, associates Rajgir to that distant time when the
stirring events recorded in the epic Mahabharat were being inacted.
Pilgrimage
Attractions of Rajgir
Griddhakuta or Vulture's Peak
This
was the place where the Lord Buddha set in motion his second
wheel of law and for three months every year during the rainy
season, Preached many inspiring sermons to his disciples. The
Buddha Sangha of Japan have constructed a massive modern stupa,
the Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), at the top of the hill in
commemoration. A bridle path leads up to the hill but it is much
more fun to take the Aerial Chairlift which operates every day
except Thursday. One way ride takes 7.5 minutes and the view is
splendid over the hills of Rajgir.
Jain Temples
On hill crests around
Rajgir, far in the distances one can see about 26 Jain temples.
They are difficult to approach for the untrained, but make
exciting trekking for those in form.
Hot Springs
At the foot of the
Vaibhava Hill. A staircase leads up to the various temples.
Separate bathing places have been organised for men and women and
the water comes through spouts from Saptadhara, the seven
streams, believed to find their source behind the "Saptaparni
Caves", up in the hills. The hottest of the springs is the
Brahmakund with a temperature od 45 degree Celsius.
Pippala Cave
Above the hot springs on
the Vaibhava Hill, is a rectangular stone sculpted by the forces
of nature which appears to have been used as a Watch tower. Since
it later become the resort of pious hermits, it is also called
Pippala Cave and popularly known as "Jarasandha ki Baithak"
after the name of the King Jarasandha, a contemporary of Lord
Krishna described in the epic Mahabharat.
Venuvana
Site
of the monastery Venuvana Vihar built by King Bimbisara for Lord
Buddha to reside. This was the King's first offering to Lord
Buddha.
Patna Sahib
Location : Patna Famous For : The Birthplace Of Guru Govind
Sahib Built In : 1839 Houses : Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib
