The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s5.55.3

c5.s5.55.3

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.