-| Rajgir | -
Location: District Nalanda (Bihar) - Lat 23º N, Long 85º 30'
E
The ancient Rajgriha or Giriraja – the capital of Magadh was a flourishing
city in the days of Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha in 6th century BC. The sitre
is located 21 kms. from Biharsharif district headquarter in the state of Bihar.
The site is actually a valley completely enclosed by the hills which form the
northern limit of Gaya range flanking the south of Ganga Plains, with two natural
passes serving as gates between north and south. Its physical position pointed
to a naturally a fortified area. It was the capital of Magadh in ancient times
till about fifth century BC, when the capital was shifted to Patliputra (Modern
Patna).
A continuous and bastioned dry stone fortification wall with a circuit of about
40 kms. runs over the top of the each hill and there are the subsidiary partition
walls cutting across valley. These ruins of places are associated with Lord
Buddha. Religious edifices and places connected with Him have been chiefly identified
on the basis of account left by the Chinese pilgrims. Therefore, Rajgir is a
site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists all over the world.
The Gridhkuta hill in Rajgir was the seat from where Lord Buddha delivered many
of his sermons. It was here that the teaching of Lord Buddha were recorded in
writing for the first time. There are many sites of historical and archaeological
significance that surround the holy city of Rajgir. Bimbisara jail, Ajatsatru
fort, Saptdhara - the hot spring which supposedly had healing power, Venuvan
Vihara - the residence built by king Bimbisara for Lord Buddha, Jivaka's (Jivaka,
who was a surgeon and an ardent follower of Buddhism) mango grove residence
and the Karanda tank (bathing site of Lord Buddha). Rajgir is also famous for
the first Buddhist council that was convened at the Satrapani cave, after the
Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha. There exist monasteries with large elliptical
halls, identified as Jivaka Vanvihara mentioned in two Buddhist texts as a favourite
retreat of Lord Buddha.
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