The picturesque Rajgir, or
Rajagriha as it was known in the past (literally, the abode
of kings) is surrounded by the meandering river Banganga and
5 hills.
During the lifetime of the
Buddha this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan
kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The hills and
caves surrounding Rajagriha were home to spiritual teachers,
ranging from the materialism of the early Charavaka school
to the metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers.
Like many others in search of
truth, Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal
heritage came to this city to seek the path of vation.
Siddhartha overwhelmed the
citizens of Rajagriha with his serenity and grace. Even the
king went to meet the ascetic and was amazed to learn that
he was a kshatriya of royal descent. Bimbisara offered half
his kingdom to Siddhartha but all he received was an
assurance that when Siddhartha achieved his gola he would
return to Rajagriha.
The first Buddhist structures
at Rajgir were raised when Ajatsatni built a monastery, and
a stupa over his share of the Buddha's ashes. That reliquary
is now a mound used as a graveyard. The Japanese much later
have built the World Peace Stupa, with its gilded images of
the Buddha. Rajgir also has the Nipponzan Myohoji, the
Japanese temple, and the Centaur Hokke Club which offers
some traditional facilities to Japanese pilgrims.
