The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s5.54.1

c5.s5.54.1

Girivrajapura—1. Râjgir in Bihar, the ancient capital of Magadha at the time of the Mahâbhârata (Sabhâ, ch. 21), where Jarâsindhu and his descendants resided. The name of Girivraja is very rarely used in Buddhist works (SBE., X, 67) : it was generally called Râjagṛiha. It is sixty-two miles from Patna and fourteen miles south of Bihar (town). It was founded by Râjâ Vasu and was therefore called Vasumatî (Râmâyaṇa, Âdi, ch. 32). It is surrounded by five hills called in the Mahâbhârata (Sabhâ, ch. 21) Baihâra, Barâha, Bṛishabha, Ṛishi-giri, and Chaityaka, but they are now called Baibhâra-giri, Bipula-giri, Ratnakūṭa, Girivrâja-giri, and Ratnâchala. In the Pâli books, the five hills are called Gijjhakūṭa, Isigili, Vebhâra, Vepulla, and Pâṇḍava. Baihâra has been identified by General Cunningham with Baibhâra-giri, the Vebhâra mountain of the Pâli annals ; Ṛishi-giri with Ratnakūṭa (also called Ratnagiri), the Pâṇḍava mountain of the Pâli annals ; Chaityaka with Bipula-giri—the Vepulla mountain of the Pâli annals ; and Barâha with Giribraja-giri. A part of this hill is called Gijjhakūṭa ; hence Bṛishabha may be identified with Ratnâchala. Girivrâja-giri includes the Udaya-giri and Sona-giri. Udayagiri joins Ratnagiri at its south-eastern corner, and Sona-giri is between Udaya-giri and Girivraja-giri. Girivrajapura is the Kusumapura or Râjagṛiha of the Buddhist period.