The Hill of Vultures - Rajgir

Gridhakuta Hill commonly known as Vulture Peak, is situated in Devrajnagar Village, 5km away from Rajgir Town in Bihar State of India. It is a famous Buddhist heritage site where Lord Buddha spent several months meditating and teaching Dharma. From here, Buddha initiated King Bimbisara of Magadha and countless people to Buddhism and delivered some of his notable discourses. Many Mahayanist pilgrims particularly from Korea and Japan, like to pay homage to this sacred site, as they believed that this was the place where Buddha taught Sadharmapundrika The Dharma Flower Sutra and Surangama Sutra.



Vulture Peak is one of the highest mountain around Rajgir and one of the most popular destinations for Buddhist pilgrims. It had been one of the several sites frequented by Buddha and his community of disciples for training and retreat. Buddhist Sangha members came here to learn, to meditate and to compile Buddha's teaching. This was also the place where Sariputta attained awakening, a place which was marked out as a possible site for Gijjhakuta Monastery.



Vulture Peak was chosen as the venue of The first Buddhist council convened in 483BC three months after Buddha's Nirvana because Rajgir was the only city that was able to provide enough alms food for large number of monks. Maha Kassapa suggested to held it at Mt Vaibhara on a rocky surfaced spot of ground, shaded by diverse trees which was being identified as Sattapanni Cave. It was said that at the entrance of the assembly hall, King Ajatasattu of Magadha specially built a splendid hall for Devas. There were 500 Arahats meeting here to recite Dharma and Vinaya so that it could be transferred down to future generations. In the convention, rules of monastic disciplines and discourses were questioned by Maha Kassappa and answered by Ananda and Upali.



It was believed that The Hill was named as Vulture Peak because vultures used to perch on some of the peak rocks.



The name of Vulture Peak might also come from the Rock formations that appeared in the shape of vulture beak and body, atop of the hill.



No clear information about the present small Buddha image enshrined in the brick-wall surrounded altar, but we understand that Buddha Image found at the site dated back to 6th century, is now housed in Archaeological Nalanda Museum.



The small altar enshrined with a little Buddha image, enclosed inside a brick wall, was offered with fruits, flower garlands and some money notes left as offerings by Buddhists came from all parts of the world.



Sutra recitation and Dharma discussion lead by Sangha members.



They were following the steps of Buddha and his pious disciples.



Listen to Dharma at a site where Buddhists' triple gems had been fully represented in the past.



Many devoted Buddhists came here to pay great homage, reciting the virtues of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.



Views of the surrounding hills.



Chinese monk Rev. Faxian when came here in 4th century, was deeply moved by the atmosphere. He hired two locals as guides and brought along flowers, oil, lamp and incense to offer to Buddha. Stepping on the site where Buddha taught Surangama Sutra, Faxian restrained with tears. He uttered " I could not meet Buddha when born but only see the foot prints Buddha left and place where he lived." The monk chanted Surangama Sutta at the site and remained overnight.



The peaceful environment across the valley makes it a perfect place for meditation.



Chinese monk Rev. Xuanzang when visited the site at 7th century, had noticed that there was a Buddhist Monastery on Gridhrakuta Hill.



Ruins of ancient stupas and foundations of a temple that built on the summit.



The sacred Buddhist site is now home to black faced monkeys.



There is a cavern under the rocky surface and monkeys seem to be its great protector.



The Chinese monk Faxian visited these two meditation caves in his visit to Vulture Peak in 4th century.



Th cavern in the rock was where Buddha used to sit for meditation. The large cave Sukarakhata which was also known as Boar's cave, was the site where Buddha delivered two of his discourses. It is also here that Sariputta attained enlightenment.



Sukarakhata Cave was where Buddha used to meditate. I mindfully bowed down with forehead, elbows, knees touching ground to show my greatest respect to this sacred site of Buddhism.



This is the cave where Ananda sat for meditation and disturbed by Mara Pisnuna who transformed into a large vulture appeared in front of the cave to frighten him. Buddha used his supernatural power to make a cleft in the rock and intrude his hand to stroke Ananda's shoulder to help him in overcoming the fear. It was said that there are sign of vulture foot print and cleft for Buddha's hand but regret, we could not recognized it.



The permanent residents of vulture peak!



The rugged peaks, sheer crags and thick wooded forest with the remains, make our mind travel back to those days when Buddha and his disciples meditating, teaching and learning Dharma.



The name of the little bridge over a stream on the way up to the summit was written in Chinese as Lingshan Qiao which means The Bridge of a Spiritual Hill



View of Vulture peak from the steps way.



The surrounding hills at Vulture Peak are true treasure as thousand species of fauna and floral especially herbs plants are found living and growing inside the dense wood.





The long steps way was lined up with beggars which truly made us very uncomfortable and yet there was nothing much we can do to benefit them. Karma is incredible!



Though sandal chair is available but we insisted to follow the footsteps of Buddha and his disciples, climbed up to the summit on foot, step by step.



Vishwa Shanti Stupa uphill is another World Peace Pagoda built by Japaneses. It is accessible by the rope way.



The world peace Pagoda located 400 meter high on top of Ratnagiri Hill was built in marble with glimmering images of Buddha on 4 sides of the stupa.



The road to and fro from Vulture Peak is the most proper road we encountered in our Pilgrimage trip in India.






The Indian styled archway at the foot of Vulture Peak carried phrases in Chinese characters, meaning as wishing to meet Buddha sole-heartedly without care for own body or life.






Horse carts are the the main transportation in Rajgir.



When Buddha's foot was injured by a splinter rock hurled by Devadatta, this was the site where Jivaka, a royal physician attended to him and healed his wound.


The remains of Javaka Amravana Vihara.



Bimbisar Jail was the place where King Bimbisara (558-491BC), a devoted follower of Buddha, was imprisoned by his son King Ajatashatru (492-460BC) who was too desperate for the throne. The captive king chose this site for his incarceration as from this spot, he could see Buddha climbing up to the mountain to retreat atop the Griddhakuta Hill. The sight of Buddha provided great joy to King Bimbisara.



The remains of the jail now had become a place where the nearby villagers displayed and sold their local herbs.