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worshipped as manifestations of the divine power. These springs are on both banks of the Saraswati rivulet, seven at the foot of Baibhar Hill, and six at the foot of Vipulagiri. The names of the former group are Ganga Jamuna, Anant Rikbi, Sapta Rikhi, Byas Kund, Markand Kund, Brahma Kund and Langat Kund. They are surrounded by sacred buildings, and on some days from eight to ten thousand persons will collect to bathe here. The six springs at the bottom of Vipulgiri are called Sita Kund, Suraj Kund, Ganesh Kund, Chandrama Kund, Ram Kund, and Sringi Rikhi Kund. The spring last mentioned, which is about a quarter of a mile east from the others, has been appropriated by the Mubammadans and is called by them Makhdum Kund, after Makhdum Shah Sheikh Sharif-ud-din Ahmad, a saint who lived at Rajgir and fasted there is a stone cell for forty days. A triennial fair, lasting a month, attracts many thousands of pilgrims to the springs”. This description still stands good. Although there are recent measures for the preservation of the pools and other amenities there has been no further excavation in the recent past leading to discoveries of relics.
Rajgir is also the place where three of the Jain Munis namely Gautam Gandhar, Sudbarma Swami and Jambu Swami bad obtained their Nirvan. It is said that for sixtytwo years these three Munis, who had attained Kaivalya Inan, had spread the creed of Jainism. It may also be noted here that Bibar is the province where these three Munis were born.
The scenic beauty of Rajgir with the bills, jungles and the hot-springs apart from the sanctity with which the Buddhists and the Jains venorate the place mark it out as a place with a great future if properly developed. Many of the Jain relics found in Rajgir have been preserved in the Museum at Nalanda which is seven miles away from Rajgir. Rajgir is now also well connected with Gaya by an all-weather road.
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