Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.230

c8.230

Isigilipassa.—It was one of the five hills encircling Rājagṛha (*Majjhima*, III, 68ff.; *Paramatthajotikā*, II, 382; *Vimānavatthu-aṭṭhakathā*, p. 82). All the five hills except the Isigili had different names in different ages (*Majjhima*, III, 68ff.). The *Mahābhārata* (II, 21. 2) refers to this mountain as Ṛṣigiri. As this mountain swallowed up the hermit teachers (*Isigilatī* Isigili-*Majjhima*, III, 68; *Papañcasūdani*, II, P.T.S., p. 63), it got the name of the ‘mount swallow-sage’ (Chalmers, *Further Dialogues of the* Buddha, II, p. 192). By the side of this mountain, there was a black rock (*Kālaśilā*) on which Godhika and Vakkali committed suicide (*Saṃyutta*, I, 120ff.; III, 123-124). Monks desired to have a lodging place at the black rock on the Isigilipassa (*Vinaya*, II, p. 76). The Buddha lived on this mountain at Rājagṛha and addressed the monks (*Majjhima*, III, p. 68). His happy reminiscences of the sites at Rājagṛha are vividly recorded in the *Mahāparinibbāna suttanta*. He told Ānanda that he would dwell at Kālaśilā at Isigilipassa (*Dīgha*., II, 116ff.). Once the Master lived here with many monks including Mahāmoggallāna who was very much praised by the revered Vaṅgisa in the presence of the Master (*Saṃyutta*, I, 194-195). The Buddha came to Rājagṛha and took up his abode in the bamboo-grove as soon as he received the death-news of Sāriputta. Then an elder who attained perfection in supernatural power dwelt on the slopes of the Mount Isigili. Several attempts were made on his life by the heretics but all in vain (*Jātaka*, No. 522, Vol. V). According to the Pali Isigilisutta, five hundred paccekabuddhas (individual Buddhas) lived on this hill for ever (*ciranivāsino*). They were seen entering the mountain but not coming out. This sutta mentions many of them by name (*Majjhima*, III, 68-71). Dr. Barua thinks that the Mount Isigili was hallowed by the death of these hermits or holy personages (*Calcutta Review*, 1924, p. 61).