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________________ Homage to Vaisali sojourned was to the north-west of the royal city, that is, Raja Vissala-kaGadba; it is propably represented by a portion of the Tila or Gadha to the north of the Kharauna-pokhara; this place is nortn-west of Raja-Visala-kaGadha, as required by Yuan Chwang's account. The Tower of Deposited Bows and Clubs should be also in the vicinity of or a part of the same Tila as it was half a mile to the north-west of the Gupta period city or Raja-Visala-ka-Gadba. To the east of Yuan Chwang's Vibara was the Stupa built to commemorate the place where Sariputta got enlightenment. Manikapura-Gadha, which is almost due east of Yuan-Chwang's Vibara may once have contained the remains of this Stupa. The Stupa built over the relics of the Buddba when they were first brought in c. 487 B. C. should be to the further south of Manikapura Tila. Being opened several times, it has probably left no traces to the present times. According to Fa Hien the Vihara where Buddba was believed to be staying was in the great forest (Mahavana) to the north of Vaisali. We have still an area called Mahavana. and it is almost to the north of Vaisali. Excavation and explorations should show whether Bhagwanpur was at any time connected with the Buddha, who was always addressed as Bhagavan. Bhagwanpur is due west of Raja Visala-ka-Gadba and may have been on the outskirts of Mahavana, which may have once stretched upto its boundary. On the occasion of his last departue from Vaisali, Buddha left the city by the western gate and walked for about a mile before he turned back to take his last view of Vaigali. This place was about one mile to the north-west of Yuan Chwang's monastery. The relics of the commemorative Stupa built over this place should be looked for either near the Asokan pillar or in the mounds locally known today as Bhimasena-ka-Palla. In proposing the above identifications, I have all along assumed that the distances and directions given by Yuan Chwang are correct. This assumption is rendered very probable by the significant fact that his statement is found to be absolutely reliable in the only case where it can be definitely checked. He states that the stone pillar of Asoka was to the north-west of the Vihara where he was staying. The Agokan pillar near Kolhua is exactly to the north-west of Kharauna Pokhara, by the side of which was buiit the Vihara where Yuan Chwang was staying. Yuan Chwang's dimensions of the Royal city tally with those of Raja Visal-ka-Gadha. It would, therefore, be not an unreasonable procedure to assume Yuan Chwang's statements to be substantially true and to proceed to identify the places mentioned by him through further explorations and excavations It is interesting to note that the route of the Buddha's last departure, which I had tentatively fixed with the help of the account of Yuan Chwang
| SR No. | 012088 |
| Book Title | Vaishali Abhinandan Granth |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Yogendra Mishra |
| Publisher | Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology and Ahimsa |
| Publication Year | 1985 |
| Total Pages | 592 |
| Language | Hindi, English |
| Classification | Smruti_Granth |
| File Size | 17 MB |