Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Vaishali (Ancient City) - Wikipedia

    Uploaded by

    Vipul Rajput
    99 views31 pages
    Vaishali was an ancient city in Bihar, India that was the capital of the Vajjian Confederacy in the 6th century BCE, one of the earliest examples of a republic. Gautama Buddha preached his last sermon here before his death in 483 BCE. It was an important place in both Jain and Buddhist religions, containing one of the best preserved pillars of Ashoka. Modern archaeological excavations have helped identify sites associated with the Buddha's visits, including monasteries, stupas containing relics, and a coronation tank.

    Original Description:

    Jwnejbhf

    Original Title

    Vaishali (ancient city) - Wikipedia

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Vaishali was an ancient city in Bihar, India that was the capital of the Vajjian Confederacy in the 6th century BCE, one of the earliest examples of a republic. Gautama Buddha preached his last sermon here before his death in 483 BCE. It was an important place in both Jain and Buddhist religions, containing one of the best preserved pillars of Ashoka. Modern archaeological excavations have helped identify sites associated with the Buddha's visits, including monasteries, stupas containing relics, and a coronation tank.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    99 views31 pages

    Vaishali (Ancient City) - Wikipedia

    Uploaded by

    Vipul Rajput
    Vaishali was an ancient city in Bihar, India that was the capital of the Vajjian Confederacy in the 6th century BCE, one of the earliest examples of a republic. Gautama Buddha preached his last sermon here before his death in 483 BCE. It was an important place in both Jain and Buddhist religions, containing one of the best preserved pillars of Ashoka. Modern archaeological excavations have helped identify sites associated with the Buddha's visits, including monasteries, stupas containing relics, and a coronation tank.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 31

    Vaishali (ancient

    city)

    This article needs additional citations for


    verification. Learn more

    Vaishali or Vesali was a city in present-day


    Bihar, India, and is now an archaeological
    site. It is a part of the Tirhut Division.[1]
    Vaishali
    Vaiśālī

    City

    Capital of the Asokan pillar at Vaiśālī


    Vaishali

    Location in Bihar,
    India
    Show map of India
    Show map of Bihar
    Show all
    Coordinates: 25.99°N 85.13°E

    Country India
    State Bihar
    District Vaishali

    Languages

     • Official Maithili, Hindi, Urdu

    Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)

    It was the capital city of the Vajjian


    Confederacy of (Vrijji mahajanapada),
    considered one of the first examples of a
    republic around the 6th century BCE.
    Gautama Buddha preached his last
    sermon before his death in c. 483 BCE,
    then in 383 BCE the Second Buddhist
    council was convened here by King
    Kalasoka, making it an important place in
    both Jain and Buddhist religions.[2][3][4] It
    contains one of the best-preserved of the
    Pillars of Ashoka, topped by a single
    Asiatic lion (26.014162°N 85.109220°E).

    The city finds mention in the travel


    accounts of Chinese explorers, Faxian (4th
    century CE) and Xuanzang (7th century
    CE), which were later used in 1861 by
    British archaeologist Alexander
    Cunningham to first identify Vaiśālī with
    the present village of Basarh in Vaishali
    District, Bihar.[5][6]

    Etymology
    Vaishali derives its name from King Vishal
    of the Mahabharata age.
    Stupa at vaishali

    History

    The Vajji or Vrijji Mahajanapada, 600 BCE.


    Abhishek Pushkarini, the coronation tank, near
    Buddha Relic Stupa, Vaishali

    Even before the advent of Buddhism and


    Jainism, Vaiśālī was the capital of the
    republican Licchavi state.[7][8] In that
    period, Vaiśālī was an ancient metropolis
    and the capital city of the republic of the
    Vaiśālī state, which covered most of the
    Himalayan Gangetic region of present-day
    Bihar state, India. However, very little is
    known about the early history of Vaiśālī.
    The Vishnu Purana records 34 kings of
    Vaiśālī, the first being Nabhaga, who is
    believed to have abdicated his throne over
    a matter of human rights and believed to
    have declared: "I am now a free tiller of the
    soil, king over my acre." The last among
    the 34 was Sumati, who is considered a
    contemporary of Dasaratha, father of the
    Hindu god, Lord Rama.
    Vaiśālī is also renowned as the land of
    Amrapali, the great Indian courtesan, who
    appears in many folktales, as well as in
    Buddhist literature. Ambapali became a
    disciple of Buddha. Manudev was a
    famous king of the illustrious Lichchavi
    clan of the confederacy, who desired to
    possess Amrapali after he saw her dance
    performance in Vaishali.[9]

    A kilometer away is Abhishek Pushkarini,


    the coronation tank. The sacred waters of
    the tank anointed the elected
    representatives of Vaiśālī. Next to it
    stands the Japanese temple and the
    Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace
    Pagoda) built by the Nipponzan Myohoji
    sect of Japan. A small part of the
    Buddha's relics found in Vaiśālī have been
    enshrined in the foundation and in the
    chhatra of the Stupa.

    Near the coronation tank is Stupa 1 or the


    Relic Stupa. Here the Lichchavis
    reverentially encased one of the eight
    portions of the Master's relics, which they
    received after the Mahaparinirvana. After
    his last discourse the Awakened One set
    out for Kushinagar, but the Licchavis kept
    following him. Buddha gave them his alms
    bowl but they still refused to return. The
    Master created an illusion of a river in
    spate which compelled them to go back.
    This site can be identified with Deora in
    modern Kesariya village, where Ashoka
    later built a stupa. Ānanda, the favourite
    disciple of the Buddha, attained Nirvana in
    the midst of the Ganges outside Vaiśālī.
    Visits of the Buddha to Vaiśālī

    A Buddhist shrine amidst the Vihara, Vaiśālī

    Vaishali is well known for its close


    association with the Buddha. After leaving
    Kapilavastu for renunciation, he came to
    Vaishali first and had his spiritual training
    from Ramaputra Udraka and Alara Kalama
    (Alark Ram). After the Enlightenment the
    Buddha frequently visited Vaishali. He
    organized his Bhikshu Sangha on the
    pattern of Vaishalian democracy. It was
    here that he established the Bhikshuni
    Sangha, initiating his maternal aunt Maha
    Prajavati Gautami into the order. His last
    Varshavasa (rainy season resort) was here
    and he announced his approaching
    Mahaparinirvana (the final departure from
    the world) just three months in advance.
    Before leaving for Kusinagara, where he
    died, he left his alms-bowl (Bhiksha-Patra)
    here with the people of Vaishali.

    Jainism at Vaishali

    Prince Vardhaman (Lord Mahavira) used this seal


    after the Judgement
    The Svetambaras state that the final
    Tirthankara, Lord Mahavira, was born and
    raised in Kshatriyakund district, Vaiśālī to
    King Siddhartha. and Queen Trishala.
    According to Jain text Uttarapurāṇa, King
    Chetaka ruled as a Republican President in
    Vaishali and was a famous and
    complaisant king. He is mentioned as a
    staunch follower of Jainism.[10] According
    to the text, Chetaka had ten sons and
    seven daughters. His sister Priyakarini
    (also known as Trishala) was married to
    Siddhartha.[10] His daughter Chellana
    married Shrenik (also known as
    Bimbisara).[11] As per Indologist Hermann
    Jacobi, Vardhaman Mahavira's mother
    Trishala was sister of King Chetaka.[12]
    Vaiśālī was also the residence of
    Kandaramasuka and Pātikaputta.

    Notable Buddhist sites in


    Vaishali
    Ānanda Stupa, with an Buddha's ashes Stupa
    Asokan pillar at Kolhua, built by the Licchavis,
    Vaiśālī Vaiśālī

    Relic stupa …
    Near the coronation tank is Stupa 1 or the
    Relic Stupa. Here the Licchavis
    reverentially encased one of the eight
    portions of the Master's relics, which they
    received after the Mahaparinirvana. After
    his last discourse the Awakened One set
    out for Kushinagar, but the Licchavis kept
    following him. Buddha gave them his alms
    bowl but they still refused to return. The
    Master created an illusion of a river in
    spate which compelled them to go back.
    This site can be identified with Deora in
    modern Kesariya village, where Ashoka
    later built a stupa.

    Kutagarasala Vihara …

    Kutagarasala Vihara is the monastery


    where Buddha most frequently stayed
    while visiting Vaiśālī. It is located 3
    kilometres from the relic Stupa, and on its
    ground can be found the Ānanda Stupa,
    with an Asokan pillar in very good
    condition (perhaps the only complete
    Asokan pillar left standing), and an ancient
    pond.

    Coronation Tank …

    A few hundred metres from the Relic


    Stupa is Abhishek Pushkarini, the
    coronation tank. The sacred waters of the
    tank anointed the elected representatives
    of Vaiśālī.

    World Peace Pagoda …


    Visva Santi Stupa

    Next to the coronation tank stands the


    Japanese temple and the Viśvā Śānti Stūpa
    (World Peace Pagoda) built by Japanese
    Nichiren Buddhist sect Nipponzan-
    Myōhōji. A small part of the Buddha's
    relics found in Vaiśālī have been enshrined
    in the foundation and in the chhatra of the
    Stupa.

    Vaishali museum was established in 1971


    by Archaeological survey of India to
    preserve and display the antiquities found
    during exploration of sites with ancient
    Vaishali.
    Recent Development
    In February 2019, Chief Minister of Bihar
    Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of
    Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum and
    Memorial Stupa to house Buddha relics.[13]

    See also
    Mithila (region)
    Pillars of Ashoka
    Chaumukhi Mahadev Mandir

    References
    1. "Tirhut Division" . tirhut-
    muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in. Retrieved
    26 December 2019.
    2. Bindloss, Joe; Sarina Singh (2007).
    India: Lonely planet Guide . Lonely
    Planet. p. 556. ISBN 978-1-74104-308-
    2.
    3. Hoiberg, Dale; Indu Ramchandani
    (2000). Students' Britannica India,
    Volumes 1-5 . Popular Prakashan.
    p. 208. ISBN 0-85229-760-2.
    4. Kulke, Hermann; Dietmar Rothermund
    (2004). A history of India . Routledge.
    p. 57. ISBN 0-415-32919-1.
    5. Janice Leoshko (2017). Sacred Traces:
    British Explorations of Buddhism in
    South Asia . Taylor & Francis. p. 74.
    ISBN 978-1-351-55030-7.
    . Dilip Kumar (1986). Archaeology of
    Vaishali . Ramanand Vidya Bhawan.
    p. 36. ISBN 9788185205083.
    OCLC 18520132 .
    7. "BSTDC" . BSTDC. Retrieved
    26 December 2019.
    . Vaishali – Encyclopædia Britannica
    9. "Amrapali was more than a luscious
    courtesan - Times of India" . The
    Times of India. Retrieved 26 December
    2019.
    10. Pannalal Jain 2015, p. 482.
    11. Pannalal Jain 2015, p. 484.
    12. Sunavala 1934, p. 52.
    13. Kumar, Madan (20 February 2019).
    "Nitish Kumar launches work for
    Buddha museum and stupa in Vaishali
    | Patna News - Times of India" . The
    Times of India. Retrieved 26 December
    2019.

    Further reading
    Kumar, Dilip (1986). Archaeology of
    Vaishali. Ramanand Vidya Bhawan.
    Singer, Noel.F. (2008). Vaishali and the
    Indianization of Arakan . APH Publishing.
    ISBN 978-81-313-0405-1.

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media


    related to Vaishali.

    Vaishali (ancient city) at the


    Encyclopædia Britannica
    Entry on Vesali in the Buddhist
    Dictionary of Pali Proper Names
    Description of Vaisali by the Chinese
    pilgrim monk Faxian (399-414 AC)
    Suttas spoken by Gautama Buddha
    concerning Vesali: (more )
    1. Sunakkhatta Sutta - To Sunakkhatta
    2. Maha-sihanada Sutta - The Great
    Discourse on the Lion's Roar ''

    Retrieved from
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
    title=Vaishali_(ancient_city)&oldid=997817603"

    Last edited 4 days ago by Shyamsunder

    Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless


    otherwise noted.

    You might also like