DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0073
RAJGIR.
51
not from their artistic value. The first is known as the house or
residence of Devadatta, the persistent enemy of Buddha. It is only
a natural cavern situated at the foot of the hill in the north-eastern
corner of the city at a spot marked M in General Cunningham's
map (Vol. III., Plate XLL), but not described by him nor by Mr.
Beglar,1 but as it is merely a natural cavern this is of little conse-
quence, except as affording another example of the primitive form
of all the earlier caves. In front of it is still to be seen the rock
which, according to tradition, Devadatta rolled down from the
mountain athwart Buddha's path and wounded a toe of his foot.2
The other group of caves is on the Gridharakuta hill, about 3 miles
north-east from the city, is of still greater interest, as it is described
minutely by both the Chinese pilgrims as a place much frequented
by Buddha and his companion Ananda. The elder pilgrim describes
it in the following terms: " The peaks of this mountain are pic-
turesque and imposing; it is the loftiest of the five mountains that
surround the town. Fah Hian having bought flowers, incense, and
oil and lamps in the new town, procured the assistance of the aged
Bikshus to accompany him to the top of the peak. Having arrived
there he offered his flowers and incense, and lit his lamps, so that
their combined lustre illuminated the glories of the cave; Fah
Hian was deeply moved, even till the tears coursed down his
cheeks, and he said, Here it was in bygone days that Buddha
dwelt..... Fah Hian, not privileged to be born at a time when
Buddha lived, can but gaze on the traces of his presence, and the
place which he occupied."3
Neither General Cunningham nor Mr. Broadley ascended the peak
high enough to reach these caves; the hill may be 100 to 150 feet in
height. It was consequently reserved for Mr. Beglar to make the
discovery. He followed the causeway that led to them a few hun-
dred yards further, and hit at once on two about 50 feet apart,
which seem to answer to Buddha's meditation cave, and the Ananda
cave as described by the Chinese pilgrims. They are both natural
caverns, the larger measuring 12 feet by 10, of irregular shape, but,
the irregularities slightly reduced by filling in with brickwork on
which are some traces of plaster, and inside there are now found some
1 Archaological Report, vol. viii. p. 90.
2 Fah Hian, Bears Translation, p. 115 ; Julien, vol. iii. p. 27.
3 Ibid, vol. iii., p. 20.
D 2
51
not from their artistic value. The first is known as the house or
residence of Devadatta, the persistent enemy of Buddha. It is only
a natural cavern situated at the foot of the hill in the north-eastern
corner of the city at a spot marked M in General Cunningham's
map (Vol. III., Plate XLL), but not described by him nor by Mr.
Beglar,1 but as it is merely a natural cavern this is of little conse-
quence, except as affording another example of the primitive form
of all the earlier caves. In front of it is still to be seen the rock
which, according to tradition, Devadatta rolled down from the
mountain athwart Buddha's path and wounded a toe of his foot.2
The other group of caves is on the Gridharakuta hill, about 3 miles
north-east from the city, is of still greater interest, as it is described
minutely by both the Chinese pilgrims as a place much frequented
by Buddha and his companion Ananda. The elder pilgrim describes
it in the following terms: " The peaks of this mountain are pic-
turesque and imposing; it is the loftiest of the five mountains that
surround the town. Fah Hian having bought flowers, incense, and
oil and lamps in the new town, procured the assistance of the aged
Bikshus to accompany him to the top of the peak. Having arrived
there he offered his flowers and incense, and lit his lamps, so that
their combined lustre illuminated the glories of the cave; Fah
Hian was deeply moved, even till the tears coursed down his
cheeks, and he said, Here it was in bygone days that Buddha
dwelt..... Fah Hian, not privileged to be born at a time when
Buddha lived, can but gaze on the traces of his presence, and the
place which he occupied."3
Neither General Cunningham nor Mr. Broadley ascended the peak
high enough to reach these caves; the hill may be 100 to 150 feet in
height. It was consequently reserved for Mr. Beglar to make the
discovery. He followed the causeway that led to them a few hun-
dred yards further, and hit at once on two about 50 feet apart,
which seem to answer to Buddha's meditation cave, and the Ananda
cave as described by the Chinese pilgrims. They are both natural
caverns, the larger measuring 12 feet by 10, of irregular shape, but,
the irregularities slightly reduced by filling in with brickwork on
which are some traces of plaster, and inside there are now found some
1 Archaological Report, vol. viii. p. 90.
2 Fah Hian, Bears Translation, p. 115 ; Julien, vol. iii. p. 27.
3 Ibid, vol. iii., p. 20.
D 2