Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c33.326

v2.c33.326

Rājagaha.—A city, the capital of Magadha. There seem to have been two distinct towns; the older one, a hill fortress, more properly called Giribbaja, was very ancient and is said¹ to have been laid out by Mahāgovinda, a skilled architect. The later town, at the foot of the hills, was evidently built by Bimbisāra.² But both names were used indiscriminately,³ though Giribbaja seems, as a name, to have been restricted to verse passages. The place was called Giribbaja (mountain stronghold) because it was surrounded by five hills—Paṇḍava, Gijjhakūṭa, Vebhāra, Isigili and Vepulla⁴—and Rājagaha, because it was the seat of many kings, such as Mandhātā and Mahāgovinda.⁵ It would appear, from the names given of the kings, that the city was a very ancient royal capital.⁶ The Commentaries⁷ explain that the city was inhabited only in the time of Buddhas and Cakkavatti kings; at other times it was the abode of YakKhas who used it as a pleasure resort in spring. The country to the north of the hills was known as Dakkhiṇāgiri.⁸