Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s2.t10.5

v1.c7.s2.t10.5

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.