Sanctity

Rajagriha (Pali: Rajagaha), modern Rajgir, was known in ancient days by more than one name. In the Ramayana, it is called Vasumati. In the Mahabharata and in the puranas, it is known as Barhadrathapura. Some Sanskrit Buddhist texts and the Haina texts call it Kusagrapura. It was also known a sGirivraja because of the hills encircling it on all sides. The hills that surround Rajagriha are traditionally five in in number, though their names slightly vary according to Buddhist, Jaina and Hindu traditions. In the Pali texts, the five hills are known as Vebhara (Vaibhara), Pandava Vepulla (Vaipulya), Gijjhakuta (Gridhrakuta) and Isigili (Rishigiri).

At the time of the Buddha, Rajagriha was the capital of Magadha and was ruled by King Seniya Bimbisara (circa 543 B.C-491 B.C.). After turning the Wheel of law at Sarnath, Lord Buddha came to Rajagriha. On knowing that the Sakyan Prince whom he had met years ago and tried to dissuade him from the path of holiness has since become a Buddha, King Bimbisara hastened to visit the Blessed One. He presented the Bamboo-grove (Venuvana, Veluvana) to the Buddha and becameHis lay devotee. The Buddha accepted it any stayed there for some time.

There resided at that time at Rajagriha a religious teacher, Sanjaya with about 250 disciples. Among them were two young disciples, namely, Sariputta and Moggallana. Not satisified with the teachings of Sanjaya, they were in search of something better. One day per chance Sariputta saw Assaji, one of the Panchvargiya Bhikkhus, going for alms in the city of Rajagriha. Impressed by the dignified and pleasant deportment of Assaji, Saiputta approached him and asked, "friend, who is your teacher Whose Dhamma do you prefess" On knowing abouth the Buddha and His teachings in brief from Assaji, Sariputta told all about them to his friend, Moggallana. Soon thereafter, both of them became Buddha’s disciples. In the Buddhist history, Sariputta and moggallana are known as the chief disciples of the Buddha.

In subsequent years, the Buddha visited Rajagriha several times and passed as many as five rainy seasons (2nd, 3rd,4th 17th and 20th) there. The favourite resorts of the Buddha at Rajagriha were the Venuvana (bamboo-grove) and the Gridharakuta (the vulture peak). As a result of this missionary work, many nobles and other householders of Rajagriha became lay disciples of the Buddha. An important lay disciple was Jivaka, the noted physician of the royal family. Following the conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana, a large number of parivrajikas also became followers of the Buddha. Thus Rajagriha had became an important centre of Buddhism during the life time of the Buddha.

Rajagriha was also the scene of a revolt against the Buddha by Devadatta, a cousin of the Buddha, who had joined the Sangha along with Ananda, upali and other Sakyas Devadatta wanted to be named as Buddha’s successor which the Buddha refused. In frustration, Devadatta tried to kill the Buddha. First by letting loose a rougue elephant. Nalagiri which the Buddha tamed; and second time by hurling a rock when the Tathagata was resting on the Gridharakuta, which injured a toe of the Buddha. In his attempt to bring schism in the Sangha and harming the Buddha, Devadatta was assisted by Ajatasatru, who had imprisoned his father , King Bimbisara, and usurped the throne.

As the story gores, Ajatsatru, athe murder of his father was unable to sleep. So to seek solace, he decided to wait on the Buddha. The King left at night by torch-light, mounter on an elephant and accompanied by a large number of attendants on elephants and on foot. This episode is illustrated at harhut. The sculpture shows Ajatasatru’s procession to the Venivana; his dismounting from the elephant near the dwelling place of the Buddha; and lastly worshipping the foortprints of the Buddha. The inscription below this Bharhut sculpture says, "Ajatasatru Bhagavato Vindate." Ajatsatru ruled from 491 B.C.-459 B.C. He later relented, sought pardon of the Buddha and became his follower. After the Mahaparinirvana, Ajatasatru raised a lofty and beautiful stupa over the relics of the Buddha which he had obtained from Kushinara.

When the Master had gone, His disciples thought of codifying His teachings in order to preserve their pristinme purity. For this purpose, a Sangiti or council was held at Rajagriha under the Presidentship of Ven. Kasyapa. At this Council, the Sutta-pitaka was condified on the basis of the answers given by Ven. Ananda to the questions put by Ven. Maha Kasyapa. Ven Upali was the chief authority on the Vinaya. According to tradition, this Council was held in a large hall, in front of the Saptaparni cave, specially built for the purpose by King Ajatasatru.

History

Rajagriha last political status after the demise of Ajatasatru as his successor Udayin ci. 459 B.C.-443 B.C.) transferred his capital from Rajagriha to Pataliputra (modern Patna). But Rajagriha continued to be an important Buddhist centre for centuries thereafter, Because of its importance, Asoka erected a Stupa and a Pillar, with an elephant-capital, at Rajagriha. When about 650 years later Fa-hian visited Rajagriha in A.D. fifth century, he saw the Venuvana monastery with resident monks as well as another monastery and a number of Stupas raised by the devotees on the various spots associated with the Buddha.

Fa-hian went up the vulture peak also and worshipped at the cave where the Buddha had sat in meditation. He says, "Three li from the summit there is a cave in the rock, facing south, where Buddha sat in meditation. Also the place where Buddha was pacing up and down, east and west, in front of his cave when Devadatta from among the crage in the north of the mountain wickedly threw a rock at him and wounded him at the toe." Fa-hian adds: "Thirty paces to the north-west, there is another cave, in which Ananda was sitting in meditation when the Mara changed himself into a vulture and stood before the cave in order to frighten Ananda; but the Buddha by his divine power pierced the rock, and stretching his hand strocked Ananda’s shoulder, so that his fear was allayed. The tracks of the bird and the whole for Buddha’s hand are both still to be seen; hence the name Vulture-Cave Mountain." Hiuen-Tsang, the second Chinese pilgrim, visited Rajagriha in about A.D. 637-AD. 638. He saw the Buddhist monasteried and Stupas seen by Fa-hian, and many more. Hiuen-Tsang gives a graphic account of what he saw at Rajagriha, which had been practically deserted by then. About the Stupa built by Askoa he saya that it is about 60 feet high; by the side of it is a stone Pillat, which is about 50 feet high, and on the top has the figure of an elephant. ‘He also gives an interesting account of the Hot Springs and saya that ‘on the right and left of the warm springs are many Stupas and the remains of Viharas close together.’ Hiuen-Tsang saw the venuvana monasteru in ruins where only the foundation and the brick walls of a Vihara existed. He also notices the Pippala stone house, said to be the cave of Mahakassapa, the Saptapani cave and numerous Stupas, including one enclosing the relics of half of the Body of Ananda.

About the Vulture Peak, Hien-tsang says: "The summit of this mountain is long from east to the west and narrow from north to south. There is a brick Vihara on the borders of a steep precipice at the western end of the mountain. It is high and wide and beautifully construted. The door opens to the east. Here Tathagata often stopped and preached the law. There is now a figure of his preaching the law, of the same size as life." "To the east of this Vihara, is a long stone on which Tathagata trod as he walked up and down for exercise. This is the place where Devadatta flung a stone from a distance to strike Buddha."

"South of this, below the precipice, is a stupa. Here Tathagata delivered the Saddharma-Pudarika Sutra." There is an evidence to show that Rajagriha remained apopular Buddhist shrine till about A.D. 12th century. There after, it fell into ruins and was forgotten lke other Buddhist shrines. Ancient Rajagriha has since been identified with Rajgir in the Patna district of Bihar.

The modern village of Rajgir, covers a part of New Rajagriha built by Ajatasatru. New Rajagriha is said to have been "protected by a massive wall of earth, pentagon in shape, with a circuit of nearly 5 kms. On the south, towards the hills, a portion of the fortified area was cut off to from a citadel.The wall once surrounding the town has almost entirely disappeared; but the citadel wall is still fairly preserved, and a small portion of its southern section, with a gateway, has been exposed. The wall is about 4.57 metres to 5.50 metres thick and stands to a height of 3.35 metres at places."