-| Vaishali | -
Location: District Vaishali (Bihar) - Lat 25º 58'E, Long 80º
11'N
The place was founded by Visala of the Iakvaku liniage, the capital of the republic
of Lachchavis, a branch of Vrij clan during the life time of Buddha, who visited
the place more than once. Many spots were connected with Lord Buddha and Ashoka
the Mauryan king/emperor, who raised one of his inscribed pillars hear a lake
associated with Lord Buddha. A mud stupa of unpretention size (7.5 meters in
diameter) belonging to the pre-mauryan age was dug out at the site which was
created by Lachchavis as a share of the relics of Lord Buddha and enshrinde
it in a stupa near Vaishali. During one of his visit that long before his death,
Lord Buddha accepted the gift of a mango grove from the famous courtesan Amarapali.
The second Buddhist council under king Kalasoka or Kakavarmin took place at
Vaishali, a century after the death of Lord Buddha in connection with the ten
rules of discipline of the monks. Both Fa-Hain and Hinen Tsang visited the place.
The chinese traveller Hinen Tsang discribed a large number of Buddhist monuments,
including the stupa which had been created by the lachchavis and later on opened
up by Ashoka for its relics contents and also set up the stupa built by Mauryan
emperor Ashoka.
The important deccovery was a stupa originally of mud but later on encased in
bricks which has been taken to be the one built over the share of the corporeal
relics of Lord Buddha by the lachchavis. The same stupa was opened by Mauryan
emparor Ashoka and removed and enlarged more than once subsequently. A soapstone
relic casket containing ashcarth , a small conch-shell, two small glass beads,
a bit of gold and a copper punch marked coins are the other finds. The portable
objects found at vaishali are rich and varied and consist of coins ranging from
punch marked and cast (Earliest coins found in India) to those of Muslim rulers,
toracotta human and animal figures including Nagas, beads pendant moulds, seal,sealing
etc. From the finds of image it can be inferred that Buddhism survived in this
place upto the 12th AD.
Vaishali believed to be the first republic of the world, having an elected body
of representative & holds special significance for Buddhist devotees. At
Kolhua, Lord Buddha delievered his last sermon/hinting at his impending departure
from the mortal world. Late emparor Ashoka created a huge pillar to commenmorate
the spot of the last sermon.
Vaishali is famous for meruclus feast performs bu Lord Buddha one of the monky
offering honey bowl to the Master for which this place has great revearance
among the Buddhist.
The escavation carried out in Vaishali has brought to light Buddha Stupa 1 (1st
century BC) and II built in brick with a casket containing part of the ashes
of Buddha.
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