Rajgir
Rajgir, known earlier as 'Rajagriha' or Girivaraja, nestles in the rocky hills that witnessed
the teachings of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavir. Rajgir is 10 km south of Nalanda and sacred
to Buddhism and Jainism. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season
here, and used to meditate and preach on Griddhakuta, the 'Hill of the Vultures'. Lord Mahavl
spent 14 yearsof his life at Rajgirand Nalanda.
It was at Rajagriha that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted king Bimbisara of the Magadh kingdom and countless others to his creed. Legends also
associate Rajgir to that distant time when the stirring events recorded in the epic Mahabharata
were being enacted.
There'a an aerial ropeway to take you to the hilltop stupa, 'Peace Pagoda', gifted by a
Japanesemonk. On one of the hills in the cave of Saptparni was held the first Buddhist Council.
The Saptparni cave is also the source of the hot water springs at Rajgir that have curative properties and are sacred to Hindus.
Today, Rajgir is a picturesque and serene place, visited by pilgrims from across the globe.
It has also gained recognition as a health resort, thanks to the famous hot springs.
The epic Mahabharat calls it Girivraja and recounts the story of its king, Jarasandha, and
his battle with the Pandava brothers and their ally, Krishna.
It is also mentioned in Buddhist and Jain scriptures, which give a series of place names,
but without geographical context. The attempt to locate these places is based largely on references to them and to other locations in the works of Chinese Buddhist pilgrims, particularly Fa
Hien and Xuanzang.
It is on the basis of Xuanzang's writings in particular that the site is divided into old and
new Rajgir. The former lies within a valley and is surrounded by low-lying hills.
It is defined by an earthen embankment (the Inner Fortification), with which is associated
the Outer Fortification, a complex of cyclopean walls that runs (with large breaks) along the
crest of the hills. New Rajgir is defined by another, larger embankment outside the northern
entrance of the valley and next to the modern town. The sources do not agree who of Buddha's
royal contemporaries, Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, was responsible for its construction.
|
