Vaishali (ancient city)

Vaishali

Vaiśālī
Licchavi
Vaishali Vaiśālī Licchavi
City
	Buddha Stupa,Relic Stupa,Ashok Pillar
	Vaishali Vaishali
	Coordinates:25°59′N85°08′E/ 25.99°N 85.13°E
Country	India
State	Bihar
Region	Mithila
District	Vaishali
Established	599 BCE
Time zone	UTC+5:30(IST)

Vaishali,VesaliorVaiśālīwas a city in present-dayBihar,India, and is now an archaeological site. It is a part of theTirhut Division.^[1]

It was the capital city of theVajjika Leagueof Vrijjimahajanapada,considered one of the first examples of arepublicaround the 6th century BCE.Gautama Buddhapreached his last sermon before his death inc. 483 BCE,then in 383 BCE theSecond Buddhist councilwas convened here by King Kalasoka, making it an important place in bothJainandBuddhistreligions.^[2]^[3]It contains one of the best-preserved of thePillars of Ashoka,topped by a singleAsiatic lion.

Vaishali is also home to possibly the earliest known example of astupa,the Buddha relic stupa which is said to contain the ashes of the Buddha.^[4]^[5]

The city finds mention in the travel accounts of Chinese explorers,Faxian(4th century CE) andXuanzang(7th century CE), which were later used in 1861 by British archaeologistAlexander Cunninghamto first identify Vaiśālī with the present village ofBasarhinVaishali District,Bihar.^[6]^[7]

Etymology[edit]

Vaishali derives its name fromKing Vishalof theMahabharataage.^[8]

History[edit]

Even before the advent ofBuddhismandJainism,Vaiśālī was the capital of therepublican Licchavi state.^[9]^[10]In that period, Vaiśālī was an ancientmetropolisand thecapital cityof therepublicof the Vaiśālī state, which covered most of the HimalayanGangeticregion of present-dayBiharstate, India. However, very little is known about the early history of Vaiśālī. TheVishnu Puranarecords 34kingsof Vaiśālī, the first beingNabhaga,who is believed to haveabdicatedhisthroneover a matter ofhuman rightsand believed to have declared: "I am now a free tiller of the soil, king over my acre." The last among the 34 wasSumati,who is considered a contemporary ofDasaratha,father of theHindugod,Lord Rama.

Vaiśālī is also renowned as the land ofAmrapali,the great Indiancourtesan,who appears in manyfolktales,as well as inBuddhist literature.Amrapali became a disciple ofBuddha.Manudev was a famous king of the illustrious Lichchavi clan of the confederacy, who desired to possessAmrapaliafter he saw her dance performance in Vaishali.^[11]

A kilometer away isAbhishek Pushkarini,the coronation tank. Thesacred watersof 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 theNipponzan Myohojisect of Japan. A small part of the Buddha's relics found in Vaiśālī have been enshrined in the foundation and in thechhatraof the Stupa.^{[citation needed]}

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 forKushinagar,but theLicchaviskept following him. Buddha gave them his alms bowl but they still refused to return. The Master created an illusion of a river inspatewhich compelled them to go back. This site can be identified with Deora in modernKesariyavillage, whereAshokalater built a stupa.Ānanda,the personal attendant of the Buddha, attained Nirvana in the midst of the Ganges outside Vaiśālī.^{[citation needed]}

By the timeXuanzangvisited Vaiśālī in the early 7th century, it was on the decline: he wrote of it that "the capital is ruined" and "it may be called a village or town" (as opposed to a city).^[12]^: 150

Visits of the Buddha to Vaiśālī[edit]

Vaishali is well known for its close association with the Buddha. After leaving Kapilavastu for renunciation, Prince Siddhartha came to Vaishali first and undertook his initial spiritual training fromUddaka Rāmaputta(Rāmaputra Udraka) andĀḷāra Kālāma.After the Enlightenment the Buddha frequently visited Vaishali. He organized thesanghaon the pattern of Vaishalian democracy. It was here that he first allowed females to join the sangha, initiating his maternal auntMahaprajapatiGautami into the order. His lastVarshavasa(rainy season resort) was here and he announced his approachingMahaparinirvana(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.^[13]

Jainism at Vaishali[edit]

TheŚvetāmbarasstate that the finalTirthankara,Lord Mahavira,was born and raised in Kshatriyakund district, Vaiśālī to KingSiddhartha.and QueenTrishala.According toJain textUttarapurāṇa, King Chetakaruled as aRepublican Presidentin Vaishali and was a famous and complaisant king. He is mentioned as a staunch follower ofJainism.^[14]According to the text, Chetaka had ten sons and seven daughters. His sister Priyakarini (also known asTrishala) was married toSiddhartha.^[14]His daughter Chellana marriedShrenik(also known asBimbisara).^[15]As per IndologistHermann Jacobi,Vardhaman Mahavira'smother Trishala was sister ofKing Chetaka.^[16] Vaiśālī was also the residence of Kandaramasuka and Pātikaputta.

Notable Buddhist sites in Vaishali[edit]

Ānanda Stupa, with anAsokan pillarat Kolhua, Vaiśālī

Relic stupa[edit]

Near the coronation tank is Stupa 1 or the Relic Stupa. Here theLicchavisreverentially encased one of the eight portions of the Master's relics, which they received after the Mahaparinirvana. After his last discourse the Buddha set out forKushinagar,but the Licchavis kept following him. The Buddha gave them his alms bowl but they still refused to return. He then created an illusion of a river in spate which compelled them to go back. This site can be identified with Deora in modernKesariyavillage, whereAshokalater built a stupa.^[17]

As per recent research, the relic stupa is potentially one of the earliest archaeologically known stupas.^[18]

Kutagarasala Vihara[edit]

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 theĀnanda Stupa,with anAsokan pillarin very good condition (perhaps the only complete Asokan pillar left standing), and an ancient pond.^[19]

Coronation Tank[edit]

A few hundredmetresfrom the Relic Stupa isAbhishek Pushkarini,the coronation tank. The sacred waters of the tank anointed the elected representatives of Vaiśālī.

World Peace Pagoda[edit]

Next to the coronation tank stands the Japanese temple and theViśvā Śānti Stūpa(World Peace Pagoda) built by the JapaneseNichiren BuddhistsectNipponzan-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.

The Vaishali Museum was established in 1971 by the Archaeological Survey of India to preserve and display the antiquities found during the exploration of sites around ancient Vaishali.

Recent development[edit]

In February 2019, Chief Minister of BiharNitish Kumarlaid the foundation stone ofBuddha Samyak Darshan Museum and Memorial Stupato houseBuddharelics.^[20]
In September 2020, Prime Minister of IndiaNarendra Modiinaugurated the Vaishali Railway station. This rail line now connects the city withHajipurandPatna.^[21]

Historical figures from Vaishali[edit]

Mahavira,the 24thTirthankaraof Jainism. Born into a royalkshatriyafamily in what is nowVaishali districtof Bihar. He abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of 30 and became an ascetic. He is considered a slightly older contemporary of the Buddha.^[22]

Chetaka,King and ruler of theVajjika Leaguewhich had its capital in Vaishali.^[23]

Vimalakirti,the central figure of theVimalakirti Sutraand a lay practitioner of Buddhism.^[24]

References[edit]

^"Tirhut Division".tirhut-muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in.Archived fromthe originalon 16 March 2015.Retrieved26 December2019.
^Hoiberg, Dale; Indu Ramchandani (2000).Students' Britannica India, Volumes 1-5.Popular Prakashan. p. 208.ISBN 0-85229-760-2.Archivedfrom the original on 4 May 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.
^Kulke, Hermann; Dietmar Rothermund (2004).A history of India.Routledge. p. 57.ISBN 0-415-32919-1.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.
^Fogelin, Lars (2015).An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism.Oxford University Press. p. 85.ISBN 9780199948239.
^Lahiri, Nayanjot (2015).Ashoka in Ancient India.Harvard University Press. pp. 246–247.ISBN 9780674057777.
^Janice Leoshko (2017).Sacred Traces: British Explorations of Buddhism in South Asia.Taylor & Francis. p. 74.ISBN 978-1-351-55030-7.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.
^Dilip Kumar (1986).Archaeology of Vaishali.Ramanand Vidya Bhawan. p. 36.ISBN 9788185205083.OCLC 18520132.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.
^"Vaishali".tourism.bihar.gov.in.Archivedfrom the original on 18 January 2021.Retrieved6 February2021.
^"BSTDC".BSTDC.Archivedfrom the original on 22 July 2015.Retrieved26 December2019.
^Vaishali Archived13 June 2021 at theWayback Machine–Encyclopædia Britannica
^"Amrapali was more than a luscious courtesan - Times of India".The Times of India.31 January 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 19 May 2019.Retrieved26 December2019.
^Chattopadhyaya, Brajadulal(1994).The Making of Early Medieval India(PDF).New Delhi: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-564076-4.Retrieved17 July2023.
^Brown, Robert (2009)."Telling the Story in Art of the Monkey's Gift of Honey to the Buddha".Bulletin of the Asia Institute.23:43–52.JSTOR 24049422.
^^a ^bPannalal Jain 2015,p. 482.
^Pannalal Jain 2015,p. 484.
^Sunavala 1934,p. 52.
^Roy, Sita Ran (1968)."A Note on Ancient Architecture of Vaisali".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.30:49–52.JSTOR 44141446.
^Fogelin, Lars (2015).An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism.Oxford University Press. p. 85.ISBN 9780199948239.
^Lars Fogelin (2015).An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism.Oxford University Press. pp. 84–90.ISBN 978-0-19-994823-9.
^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.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2021.Retrieved26 December2019.
^PM inaugurates 12 railway projects in Bihar Archived28 June 2021 at theWayback Machineconstructionweekonline.in
^Romesh Chunder Dutt (5 November 2013).A History of Civilisation in Ancient India: Based on Sanscrit Literature: Volume I.Routledge. pp. 382–383.ISBN 978-1-136-38189-8.
^Upinder Singh (2008).A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century.Pearson Education India. pp. 260–263.ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9.
^The Holy Teaching of Vimalakīrti: A Mahāyāna Scripture.Motilal Banarsidass Publ. 1991. p. 20.ISBN 978-81-208-0874-4.

External links[edit]

Entry onVesaliin the Buddhist Dictionary of Pali Proper Names

Description ofVaisaliby the Chinese pilgrim monkFaxian(399-414 AC)

Suttasspoken byGautama BuddhaconcerningVesali:(more)

[1] "Tirhut Division".tirhut-muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in.Archived fromthe originalon 16 March 2015.Retrieved26 December2019.

[2] Hoiberg, Dale; Indu Ramchandani (2000).Students' Britannica India, Volumes 1-5.Popular Prakashan. p. 208.ISBN 0-85229-760-2.Archivedfrom the original on 4 May 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.

[3] Kulke, Hermann; Dietmar Rothermund (2004).A history of India.Routledge. p. 57.ISBN 0-415-32919-1.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.

[4] Fogelin, Lars (2015).An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism.Oxford University Press. p. 85.ISBN 9780199948239.

[5] Lahiri, Nayanjot (2015).Ashoka in Ancient India.Harvard University Press. pp. 246–247.ISBN 9780674057777.

[6] Janice Leoshko (2017).Sacred Traces: British Explorations of Buddhism in South Asia.Taylor & Francis. p. 74.ISBN 978-1-351-55030-7.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.

[7] Dilip Kumar (1986).Archaeology of Vaishali.Ramanand Vidya Bhawan. p. 36.ISBN 9788185205083.OCLC 18520132.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2021.Retrieved28 June2021.

[8] "Vaishali".tourism.bihar.gov.in.Archivedfrom the original on 18 January 2021.Retrieved6 February2021.

[9] "BSTDC".BSTDC.Archivedfrom the original on 22 July 2015.Retrieved26 December2019.

[10] Vaishali Archived13 June 2021 at theWayback Machine–Encyclopædia Britannica

[11] "Amrapali was more than a luscious courtesan - Times of India".The Times of India.31 January 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 19 May 2019.Retrieved26 December2019.

[Chattopadhyaya_1994-12] Chattopadhyaya, Brajadulal(1994).The Making of Early Medieval India(PDF).New Delhi: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-564076-4.Retrieved17 July2023.

[13] Brown, Robert (2009)."Telling the Story in Art of the Monkey's Gift of Honey to the Buddha".Bulletin of the Asia Institute.23:43–52.JSTOR 24049422.

[FOOTNOTEPannalal_Jain2015482-14] Pannalal Jain 2015,p. 482.

[FOOTNOTEPannalal_Jain2015484-15] Pannalal Jain 2015,p. 484.

[FOOTNOTESunavala193452-16] Sunavala 1934,p. 52.

[17] Roy, Sita Ran (1968)."A Note on Ancient Architecture of Vaisali".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.30:49–52.JSTOR 44141446.

[18] Fogelin, Lars (2015).An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism.Oxford University Press. p. 85.ISBN 9780199948239.

[Fogelin2015-19] Lars Fogelin (2015).An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism.Oxford University Press. pp. 84–90.ISBN 978-0-19-994823-9.

[20] 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.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2021.Retrieved26 December2019.

[21] PM inaugurates 12 railway projects in Bihar Archived28 June 2021 at theWayback Machineconstructionweekonline.in

[Dutt2013-22] Romesh Chunder Dutt (5 November 2013).A History of Civilisation in Ancient India: Based on Sanscrit Literature: Volume I.Routledge. pp. 382–383.ISBN 978-1-136-38189-8.

[Singh2008-23] Upinder Singh (2008).A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century.Pearson Education India. pp. 260–263.ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9.

[24] The Holy Teaching of Vimalakīrti: A Mahāyāna Scripture.Motilal Banarsidass Publ. 1991. p. 20.ISBN 978-81-208-0874-4.

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