The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s5.55

Language: English

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The Beṇuvana Vihāra called also Karaṇḍa Beṇuvana Vihāra, which was given by Bimbisāra to Buddha and where Buddha usually resided when he visited Rājgir, was situated at a distance of three hundred paces from the extreme east toe of the Baibhāra hill (i. e. outside the valley and on the northern side of the Baibhāra hill). In this Vihāra, Sāriputra, whose real name was Upatishya, (*Kern, Saddharma-puṇḍarika. SBE. XXI*, p. 89), and Maudgalāyana (called also Kolita) became Buddha’s disciples, having learnt first the doctrines from Aśvajit in the celebrated couplets which mean, ‘Tathāgata has explained the cause of all things which have proceeded from a cause, and the great Śramaṇa has likewise explained the cause of their cessation.’ They had been formerly the disciples of Sañjaya Vairatthi Putra of Rājgir. Near it was the Pippala cave where Buddha used to sit in deep meditation (*Dhyāna*) after his midday-meal. This cave is at a short distance from the Jaina temple on the top of the Baibhāra hill, down a narrow ledge on the west. The Saptaparṇī (called also Saptaparṇa and Sattaparṇī) caves have been identified by Mr. Beglar with a group of caves situated at a distance of about a mile to the west of the Pippala cave and the northern side of the Baibhāra hill, where the first Buddhist synod was held after the Nirvāṇa of Buddha under the presidency of Mahākāśyapa (*Vinaya Texts*, pp. 370-385; *SBE.*, vol. XX; *Arch. S. Rep.*, vol. VIII).

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The Smaśānam or cemetery was two or three *li* to the north of Beṇuvanavihāra, in a forest called Sitavana (*Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal*, vol. I; *Avadāna Kalpalatā*, ch. 9, ślk. 19), which may be identified with Vasu-Rājā-kā-Gaḍ, Vasu Rājā being the grandfather of Jarāsindhu and father of Bṛihadratha. Bimbisāra, in accordance with his promise that in whichever house a fire occurred through negligence, the owner thereof should be expelled and placed in the cemetery, abandoned his palace at Rājgir in the valley as it caught fire and went to reside at the cemetery; but apprehending an attack from the king of Vaisāli, or according to some account, from Chaṇḍa Pajjota, king of Ujjayinī, in this unprotected place which was not at all fortified, he commenced to build the new town of Rājagṛiha, which is at a distance of one mile to the north of old Rājagṛiha and was completed by his son Ajātaśatru. Near the western gate of the new Râjgir was situated the Stûpa which was built by Ajâtaśatru over the relics of Buddha obtained by him as his share Legge's Fa Hian, ch. 28). Thus the old Râjgir was abandoned, and new Râjgir became the capital of Magadha for a short period. Buddha died in the eighth year of the reign of Ajâtaśatru. The seat of government was removed to Pataliputra in the reign of Udâyi or Udayâśva, the grandson of Ajâtaśatru, who reigned from 519--503 B.C.

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The celebrated Bikramasilâ Vihâra was according to General Cunningham, situated at Śilâo, a village six miles to the north of Râjgir on the river Pañchâna where a high mound still exists, but this identification does not appear to be correct (see Bikramasilâ Vihâra). Badgâon or ancient Nâlandâ, the celebrated seat of Buddhist learning, is seven miles to the north of Râjgir. It still contains the ruins of the Buddhist Vihâras and Stûpas. Nigrantha Jñâtiputra (Nigantha Nâthaputta), who resided at Râjagriha in the Chaitya of Guṇaśila (Kalpasûtra, Samacharita) at the time of Buddha with five other Tirthankaras named Purâṇa-Kassapa, Mak-khaliputta Gosâla, Ajitakesakambala, Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta and Pakudha Kachchâyana (Mahâvagga, ch. VI, p. 31), has been identified with Mahâvîra, the twenty-fourth or the last Tirthankara of the Jainas. It was at his instigation that Śrigupta, a householder of Râjagriha attempted to kill Buddha in a burning pit and with poisonous food (Avadâna Kalpalatâ, ch. 8). Gosâla Makkhaliputta was the founder of the Âjivaka sect (Dr Hoernle's Uvasagadasao, introduction, p. xiii and Appendix, 1, 2). Pâvâpuri, where Mahâvîra died, is at a distance of ten miles to the south-west of Râjgir.

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Buddha, while in Râjgir, lived at Gridhrakûṭa, Gautama-Nyagrodha-ârâma, Chauraprapâta, Saptaparni cave, Krishna-śilâ by the side of Rishi-giri, Sapta-śauṇḍa cave, in the Sitavana-kuñja, Jivaka's Mango-garden, Tapoda-ârâma and Mrigavana of Madrakukshi (Mahâparinibbâna Sutta, ch. 3). For further particulars, see Râjgir in Pt. II of this work. 2. Râjgiri, the capital of Kekaya, on the north of the Bias in the Punjab (Râmâyaṇa, Ayodhya K., ch. 68). Cunningham identifies Girivraja, the capital of Kekaya with Jâlâlpur, the ancient name of which was Girjak (Arch. S. Rep., II): this identification has been adopted by Mr. Pargiter (Markaṇḍeya P., p. 318 note).