Vaishali
It is held that the
town derives its name from King Vishal, whose heroic deeds are narrated
in the epic Ramayana. However, history records that around the time Pataliputra was the centre
of political activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as the seat of the Republic of Vajji.
Vaishali is credited with being the World's First Republic to have a duly elected assembly of representatives.
Lord Buddha visited Vaishali more than once during his life time and announced his
approaching Mahaparinirvana to the great followers he had here. Hundred years after he
attained Mahaparinirvana, it was the venue of the second Buddhist Council.
According to one belief, Jain Tirthankar Lord Mahavir was born at Vaishali. Vaishali is significant to both Buddhists and Jains. Lord Buddha announced his impending Nirvana here. To commemorate the importance of the site, Emperor Ashoka erected one of his famous pillars here.
Vaishali is an ancient place. It finds mention in the Ramayana. Legend has it that the Ikshvaku queen Alambusha had a son Vishal, who had founded the city named Vishalapuri.
sumati ,who had played host to Sri Ramchandra, was one of the descendants of Vishal. The
Puranas also mention King Vishal. Sri Ramchandra is supposed to have spent one night here
lie going to Janakpur.
During the time of Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha, Vaishali was a prosperous place.
This Lichchhavi capital of Vaishali was commonly known as Basarh and remained in comparative oblivion till 1903 when the Department of Archaeology sponsored a series of excavations. Dr Bloch carried out the first excavations and Dr Spooner continued this work in 1912. A large number of terra cotta figurines, pieces of pottery, inscribed seals etc. have been found at
Vaishali.
During the last few years, strenuous efforts have been made by the Jains and others, liberally helped by the state government, to revive the glory of Vaishali. Excavations are being carried out and many more relics have been found. A modern temple has been built, and an
image of Lord Mahavir installed therein. The temple is artistically erected and has started
attracting pilgrims. On Mahavir Jayanti day, thousands of pilgrims offer puja here. Vaishali was
selected as the site for an institution for teaching Jainism.
A small museum has also been sponsored at Vaishali, and a large number of finds are kept
there. On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, a big fair is held which is attended by thousands of
people. Cultural events are a usual feature of the anniversary celebrations.
Lord Buddha visited the place thrice. While sojourning at Vaishali, Buddha permitted the
nuns to enter the Sangh, against his personal wishes, at the request of Ananda, his favourite
disciple, and his foster mother, Maha Prajapati, became the first Buddhist nun.
King Vishala's garh is still to be seen as a huge mound. It was General Cuningham who,
after visiting Vaishali, gave the first authoritative description. The excavations in 1904 discovered remains of masonry buildings at every place explored. It was considered that the ruined
buildings date back to at least 300 AD or still older times.
In 1945, a Vaishali Sangh was organised to revive the ancientglory of Vaishali.The Sangh
has taken great interest in cleaning up the large tank, known as the Bawan Pokhar, in the village. Several statues have been dug out of this tank. Local tradition has it that there were 52
tanks, and that Basarh was the residence of the Puranic King Bali.
Hindu deity Vishnu appeared here in the fourth incarnation in the shape of a dwarf, and
asked Bali for as much ground as he could cover with his three steps. Two of his steps covered
the heaven and earth, and the third he placed on the head of Bali and sent him hurtling into
hell as punishment for his arrogance. Villagers believe Bawan Pokhar was the site of this occurrence.
Within three miles of Vaishali, there is an Ashokan pillar, without any inscription, at Kaluha
village. The pillar is a monolith supporting a square pedestal on which a lion is carved in stone.
The shaft in the single block of polished stone stands 22 feet high above the ground and the
remainder is below the ground.
A finely-executed lion with a snarling mouth sits lacing north at the top of the pillar. There
are some Buddhist statues nearby, of whi:h one is a large image of a seated Buddha with a
rown and necklace. There are also some mounds in the neighbourhood.
All these appear to prove that Kaluha was a partof Vaishali. |
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