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Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s2.t10: Griddhkuta Hill

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s2.t10

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Griddhkuta Hill

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Famous as a favourite rainy season retreat of Gautam Buddha, Griddhkuta Hill (Vulture's Peak) is one of the five large hills that surround the ancient capital of Magadh, Rajagriha or Giribraja (see the entry). GriddhkutaIt was so named because it resembled the beak of a vulture. In Pali texts, Attakatha, the other four hills are known as Pandava, Vemar, Isigili and Vupullu. The Jain text, Vividhatirthkalpa, refers to Griddhkuta as Ratnagiri and other hills have been mentioned as Vipulgiri, Udayagiri, Sonagiri and Vaibhargiri. These hills had connections with Gautam Buddha and Lord Mahavir. As such both Buddhist and Jain texts had accorded it a sacred status, declaring it an important pilgrimage centre for their respective followers.

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The memorial archway at Gṛddhakūṭa Hill, India

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Pali texts link many of the significant events of Buddha’s life to Griddhakuta Hill. He met and ordained here the Magadh King Bimbisara and his royal retinues. While living at this place, he delivered many of his *sutras* during interactive sessions with monks and disciples. This included the famous *Sadharmpundrika Sutra* (*Lotus Sutra*) and *Mahaprajnaparmita* (*Perfection of Wisdom*) *Sutra*. It is said that Buddha’s cousin, Devdatt, made an attempt on his life by throwing a large slab of stone on him which injured his toes and fell here. When Bimbisar was imprisoned by his son, Ajatsatru, on a hillock, he wanted his prison to be so constructed that he could see Buddha passing by in the morning and evening. This was also the final resting place for Buddha before he departed to Kusinara for his Mahaparinirvana (total liberation).

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The hill existed as a famous Buddhist pilgrim place when Faxian (5th century) and Xuanzang (7th century) visited the place. Both devoted specific separate sections in their travelogue on their visit to the hill. In a moving description, Faxian writes about spending a night on the top of the hill. He describes going up to this beautifully green and the highest of the five surrounding hills with incense sticks, flowers, oil and lamp along with two long-timer resident monks for making his offerings. Looking at Buddha's footprints and abode, he was overfilled with emotion. He writes: “Here Buddha delivered the *Surangama* (a Mahayana Buddhist Sutra linked with Nalanda’s Buddhist school which literally meant "indestructible"). I, Faxian, was born when I could not meet with Buddha. And now, I only see the footprints which he has left, and the place where he lived and nothing more.” He became so melancholic that he spent the whole night there chanting *Surangama sutra* in a cavern there. He, however, found the large brick prayer hall where Buddha preached in ruins and identified the place where Buddha’s protection saved Ananda from evil designs of Mara and the cavern where Buddha and Arhatas meditated.

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Two centuries later, when Xuanzang was asked by the king of Turfan reasons for his perilous visit to India, he replied that it was "to kneel at the Griddhkuta (Vulture’s Peak) to show respect for Buddha and prostrate on the hill for receiving Buddha’s blessings". In his description of the visit to Griddhakuta, he notes the existence of stairways that King Bimbisar had built to facilitate people to go up to the top of the hill to listen to Buddha. There were two small *stupas* on the way. The one designated the spot after which the movement of carriages of kings and members of royal family was prohibited. The other indicated the place up to which common people could go. On the western slope of the hill, there was a large and tall prayer hall where Buddha used to preach. Xuanzang found there a large standing statue of Buddha in sermon-delivery pose. He details all other places that were linked with different events in Buddha’s life like the place when the stone thrown by Devdutt fell, the stone house/cave where he meditated, the spot of his meditative perambulation/ stroll, the hole in stone created by his extending hand from another cave to protect Anand from Mara, the stone slab with clear white and shining lines appearing on account of Buddha drying his robe there, his footprints on the stone, etc.

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Presently, a World Peace Pagoda and Nipponzan Myohoji Temple adorn the top of the hill which could also be reached by a ropeway constructed by the Japanese. This is now an important pilgrimage site of the Buddhists.

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(*Kamal Sheel*)

Linked texts (4)