What was the ancient name of Rajgir and which dynasties ruled it?
The ancient identity of Rajgir was Rājagrhā, meaning house of the king. This city served as the capital for multiple dynasties including the Haryanka dynasty and the Mauryan Empire.
Questions about Rajgir
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did King Bimbisara rule from Rajgir and who succeeded him?
King Bimbisara ruled from 558 to 491 BC while his son Ajatashatru governed from 492 to 460 BC. Udayin moved the capital to Pataliputra around 460 BC after ruling for twenty years.
Where did Gautama Buddha meditate at Rajgir and what council took place there?
Gautama Buddha spent several months meditating at Gridhra-kuta, also called Hill of the Vultures. The Saptaparni Cave hosted the First Buddhist Council under the leadership of Maha Kassapa.
Who built the Son Bhandar Caves and when were they constructed?
An inscription indicates these caves were built for Jain ascetics by Acharya Vairadevasuri in the fourth century CE. Sculptures of tirthankaras Padmaprabha and Parshvanatha appear on the cave walls.
What is the purpose of the cyclopean wall surrounding old Rajgir and when was it dated?
Archaeologists date the cyclopean walls of old Rajgir to about the sixth century BCE. These structures served dual purposes as both defense against invaders and protection from potential flooding caused by monsoon rainwater flowing down from the hills.
When was the Vishwa Shanti Stupa inaugurated and who gifted the rope-way to the stupa?
The Vishwa Shanti Stupa was inaugurated on the 25th of October 1969 atop Ratnagiri hills by Japanese monk Nichidatsu Fujii. A rope-way leading to the stupa was gifted by Fuji Guruji in the 1960s.