Rajgir, Host Of Buddhist Councils

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Rajgir or Rajgriha as it was known in its hay days was the first capital of Magadh Mahajanapada. Before they moved to Pataliputra on the banks of Ganga. Today, it is a small town 60 km SE of Patna. Surrounded by seven hills, it is located in the valley encompassed by these hills. The name literally means the abode of the royals.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa at Rajgir
Vishwa Shanti Stupa

Rajgir – Historical Place in Bihar

Buddhist Prayer Flags
Buddhist Prayer Flags

Historically Rajgir is important for Jains, Buddhists, Hindus & students of history. Buddha is said to have visited the place several times. And stayed here to propagate Buddhism. He gave some of his important sermons here. Including the one that converted the then-king Bimbisara to a Buddhist along with many others. Lord Mahavir is also supposed to have spent 14 rainy seasons or Chaumasas here. He delivered his first sermon here, though his sermon is not as celebrated as that of Buddha.

Jains have a Shwetambar and a Digambar temple each here. This city is also associated with Mahabharata as the city of Jarasandh. Though we could not see it, it is said a Jarasandh Akhara still exists in the city where the wrestlers are trained.

It was also a place where Ashoka chose to put one of his famous pillars with an elephant capital. Indicating that this city was important even in his reign i.e. more than 2400 years back. According to some texts, Ashoka died in Rajgir on top of one of the hills. Bimbisara, the last Magadh king to have ruled from here was imprisoned here in jail by his son Ajatshatru. Who shifted the capital to Pataliputra. His jail can still be seen along with the walls of his fort.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa

Ropeway to Vishwa Shanti Stupa
Ropeway to Vishwa Shanti Stupa

Today the most visited place here is Vishwa Shanti Stupa, which is on top of a hill and can only be approached by a ropeway. It is a very basic ropeway, with single-chair seating and a basic rod to bind you to the chair. On top of it, you have to hop on and hop off the chair while it is moving. The ride is about 12 minutes and in the middle, it can get scary. In case the electricity decides to take a break, you will be stuck in the tiny chair. On top of a valley, but, the ride is a lot of fun nonetheless.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa is a huge stupa in pristine white with golden Buddha images in various mudras on its side. The Japanese built the stupa and a Japanese monk popularly called Fuji Baba lives here. He is in charge of this stupa and the temple. We had the good fortune of being invited by the Baba for Japanese tea at his place. And the room was as enchanting as the stupa. The room had been built around the natural rocks on the hills. And they formed the part of the room like everything else.

You can get a top-of-the-hill view of the city and its surroundings from here. The place is very well maintained and gives the calm and serenity that we all need. Colorful flags floating with the light wind do not let the place become dull and add color and vitality to the place.

Son Bhandar Caves

Son Bhandar Caves, Rajgir
Son Bhandar Caves

The Son Bhandar caves give you the legends of the place. It is said that the hill behind this cave is studded with Gold. There is a door marked inside one of the caves. Alongside the door is written a mantra in Shakhlipi or shell script, which is yet to be deciphered. It is said that when that mantra is deciphered and chanted, the door will open giving access to all the gold.

We were also told that the British who discovered all these caves tried their best to open the door but could not. There are other carvings on the cave walls, which show the initial stages of stone carving in India. On the outer walls of one of the caves, images of Jain Tirthankaras can be seen.

As per the inscriptions, these caves were excavated during 3-4th CE for the Jain monks. The caves were double-storeyed, but as of now, the upper stories are not reachable. As the structure suffered a lot during a massive earthquake in the early 20th CE.

Maniyar Math

Maniyar Math
Maniyar Math

Another excavated site is Maniyar Math, which shows an octagonal temple within round cylindrical walls. The round wall has niches at regular intervals. There were images and idols of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses, done in stucco. Most images have been lost. But from whatever information is available about them it seems to be an important place for worship of snake Gods.

You can see some imprints at the corners and ends of the niches. The compound of this complex has imprints of various dynasties like the Dhanusha of the Gupta dynasty. It is located in the center of the Old Rajgir. And is supposed to be the shrine of Mani-naga, which is mentioned in Mahabharata.

Hot Water Springs in Rajgir

Rajgir Hot Water Springs
Hot Water Springs

The Hot water springs that are supposed to have curative powers are also found in Rajgir. The board outside the complex says that this place has 22 ponds and 52 streams, and names each of them. The source of the spring is behind the Saptarni caves behind the hills. The hottest spring is Bramhkund. There is a Laxmi Narayan temple accompanying the Kund. You would see a lot of people taking a bath and then visiting this temple.

Tam Tam or Horse Carriage

Tam Tam or Horse carriage stand
Tam Tam or Horse carriage stand

While here, it is impossible to miss the bright, colorful & high Tongas moving around. There is a Tonga stand called ‘Tam Tam Padao’, where you can hire the tongas to go around the city. Each and every Tonga was beautifully decorated and named. Ghungroos or small bells were a part of the decoration. And produced a kind of music when Tonga moved. While all Tongas were the same, their Shringar made each of them unique.

You would be tempted to choose the one that catches your eye the most. These Tongas are also meant to keep the number of vehicles to a minimum in the town.

Khaja of Silao

Khaja or Silao sweet dish on sale in Bihar
Khaja or Silao sweet dish on sale in Bihar

Between here and Nalanda lies a small place called Silao, which is famous for Khaja – a patty-like sweet or salted dish. People of Bihar love to eat Khaja of Silao. All you can see is the neatly arranged piles of Khaja when you cross the town. Do taste the savory when you cross the place.

There were many things that we could not see. The place needs about 2 days to see it properly. Hope to get another opportunity to explore it once again.

Recommend you to read the following Tourist Places in Bihar. Remember they are also historical places in Bihar.

Bodh Gaya – Where Buddha achieved Enlightenment

Patna – Current version of ancient Pataliputra

Nalanda – the Ancient Seat of Learning

Vaishali – Birthplace of Lord Mahavir

Barabar Caves – First-ever caves of India

Mithila’s Madhubani artist Ganga Devi

Banka Bihar – First Impressions

2 COMMENTS

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