Rajagriha, Ჹṛh, Rajan-griha: 30 definitions
Introduction:
Rajagriha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Ჹṛh can be transliterated into English as Rajagrha or Rajagriha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantraᲹṛh (राजगृह):—Sanskrit name for one of the twenty-four sacred sites of the Sūryaṇḍ, the first ṇḍ of the ī, according to the ܲᾱ峾ٲ-ٲԳٰ. The ī is the fifth and final cakra located just above the head. Each one of these holy sites (īٳ) is presided over by a particular Khecarī (‘sky-goddess�). This Ჹṛh-īٳ is connected with the goddess Bhagnanāsā.
: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II) (shaivism)Ჹṛh (राजगृह) refers to one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22). Prayāga is presided over by the Goddess (Devī) named Bhagnanāsā accompanied by the Field-protector (Kṣetrapāla) named Mahākarṇa. Their weapon possibly corresponds to the vajra and śپ. A similar system appears in the 9th century ղḍākٲԳٰ (chapter 18).

Shaiva (शै�, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaᲹṛh (राजगृह).�(girivraja) An ancient city in India, capital of Magadha. Dīrgha King of Girivraja was killed by King Pāṇḍu. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 112, Verse 27) Another King, Ambuvīca, had for a time ruled over the city. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 203, Verse 17). Afterwards Jarāsandha became its King. Girivraja is a holy place as well. He who bathes here will become as pleasantlooking as King Kakṣīvān. (Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Verse 104).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexᲹṛh (राजगृह).—A sacred place in Kīkaṭa.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 108. 73.

The Purana (पुरा�, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
General definition (in Hinduism)
: WikiPedia: HinduismThe city of Rajgir (ancient Ჹṛh; Pali: Ჹ) was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Rajgir is famous for its hot water springs, locally known as Brahmakund, a sacred place for Hindus.
The epic Mahabharata calls it Girivraja and recount the story of its king, Jarasandha, and his battle with the Pandava brothers and their allies Krishna. Jarasandha who hailed from this place, had been defeated by Krishna 17 times. The 18th time Krishna left the battlefield without fighting. Because of this Krishna is also called “ranachorh� (one who has left the battlefield). Mahabharata recounts a wrestling match between Bhima (one of the Pandavas) and Jarasandha, the then king of Magadha. Jarasandha was invincible as his body could rejoin any dismembered limbs.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraᲹṛh (राजगृह) is the name of a sacred city where the Buddha was dwelling at the beginning of the discourse in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter V. Accordingly, “the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Ჹṛh�. Question: Why is it said that the Buddha was dwelling at Ჹṛh instead of describing the teachings of the Prajñāpāramitā directly? Answer: The author mentions the place (ś), the time () and the individuals (pudgala) so that people will trust (ś) his story.
Note: Ჹṛh was the capital of Magadha (Bihar), the present Rajgir south of Patna. Its location has been definitively identified and excavated by Marshall, AR Arch. Survey, 1905�1906, 1925�1926. See B. C. Law, Ჹṛh in Ancient Literature, M. Arch. Survey, no. 58, Delhi, 1938. � The Buddha stayed there during the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 17th and 20th ṣa of his ministry (Buddhavaṃsa Comm., p. 3).

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many ūٰ of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā ūٰ.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)Ჹṛh (राजगृह) refers to one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century ղḍākٲԳٰ (chapter 18). These districts are not divided into subgroups, nor are explained their internal locations. They [viz., Ჹṛh] are external holy places, where the Tantric meting is held with native women who are identified as a native goddess. A similar system appears in the tradition of Hindu Tantrims, i.e., in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22), which belongs to the Śākta sect or Śaivism.
Ჹṛh is presided over by the Goddess (Devī) named Vipannā accompanied by the Field-protector (Kṣetrapāla) named Mahākarṇa or Jhillīrava. Their weapon possibly corresponds to the vajra and ṅkś.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (Բ) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: BuddhismRajagriha:—The capitol city of the kingdom of Magadha.
: Google Books: Geography from Ancient Indian Coins & Seals (buddhism)Ჹṛh (राजगृह) is modern Rajgir, about 14 miles north west of the town of Bihar Sharif in the Bihar Subdivision of Patna district. It is a little over 40 miles, as the crow flies, southeast of Patna, and about 6 miles south of ancient site of Nālandā. The antiquity of Ჹṛh is born out by Pāli and Prākrit literatures and by the accounts of the classical writers (Hiuen-tsang and Fa-hien) and corroborated by the archaeological sources.
The power, prosperity and magnificence of Rajgir in the life time of Buddha and Ѳ屹ī are spoken of in the Divyāvadāna. Ჹṛh was the early captial of the Magadha janapada, however, later on it had been subjugated by the Aṅgas. Out of various names such as Vasumatī, Magadhapura, Bārhadrathapura, and Ჹṛh etc., Girivraja seems to be the earliest name of Rajgir. The site of the old city was encricled by five hills which are now crowded with Jain temples built of old material.
The Buddhist traditions claim that Aśoka erected a ū貹 and a pillar with elephant captial but in none of the excavations so far undertaken, any Mauryan ruins have been discovered.
: WikiPedia: BuddhismThe city of Rajgir (ancient Ჹṛh; Pali: Ჹ) was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. This area is also notable in Jainism and Buddhism as one of the favorite places for Lord Mahavira and Gautama Buddha and the well known “Atanatiya� conference was held at Vulture’s Peak mountain. New Rajgir is defined by another, larger, embankment outside the northern entrance of the valley and next to the modern town. It was here that Gautama Buddha spent several months meditating, and preaching at Gridhra-kuta, ('Hill of the Vultures'). He also delivered some of his famous sermons and initiated king Bimbisara of Magadha and countless others to Buddhism. On one of the hills is the Saptparni cave where the First Buddhist Council was held under the leadership of Maha Kassapa.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
: archive.org: Jaina Monuments And Places First Class ImportanceᲹṛh (राजगृह).—According to Jinaprabhasūri, the city which eventually came to he called Ჹṛh was known from time to time by such earlier names as Kṣitipratiṣṭha, Caṇakapura, Ṛṣabhapura, Vṛṣabhapura and Kuśāgrapura, the first three of which are not met wilh elsewhere, in Buddhist or Brahmanical literature. This capital of Magadha might be viewed from a distance from the Gorathagiri (modena Barābar hills) in Bihar.
The Jaina վ-īٳ-첹貹 speaks of Ჹṛh as the residence of kings and princes such as Jarāsandha, Śreṇika, Kunika, Abhaya, Megha, Halla, Vihalla, and Nandiṣeṇa. Jarāsandha was no other than King Jarāsandha of Epic fame. Śreṇika rvas king Seṇiya Bimbisāra of Pāli literature, Kūṇika was King Ajātaśatru, son and successor of Bimbisāra. Abliaya was Ahhayarājakumāra, and Megha, Halla, Vihalla, and Nandiṣeṇa were like Kūṇika and Abhaya, sons of Bimbisāra, presumably by different queens.
: archive.org: Sum Jaina Canonical Sutras (vividhatirthakalpa)Ჹṛh (राजगृह) or Ჹṛhpura stands in the valley of the Vaibhāragiri mountain. In later times it was known by such names as Kṣitipratiṣṭha, Caṇakapura, Ṛṣabhapura, Kuśāgrapura and Ჹṛh. Here was a lovely temple called Guṇaśila. Metāryya built here the rampart of Śātakaumbha. Here were born wealthy bankers like Śālibhadra. Here existed thirty-six thousand houses of merchants. Jina Suvrata performed his religious vow at the shrine of Aśvāvabodha. Jarāsandha, Śreṇika, Kūṇika, Abhaya, Megha, Halla, Vihalla and Nandisena hallowed the place by their noble birth. Eminent ascetics like Jambusvāmin, Kṛtapuṇya and Sejjambhava, and devoted wives like Nadā were born here.
: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Ჹṛh (राजगृह) is the birth-place of Suvrata, the twentieth Tīrthaṅkara, according to chapter 1.6 [īś-ٰ] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly: “[...] In Bharata there will be twenty-three other Arhats and eleven other Cakrins. [...] The son of Padmā and Sumitra, Suvrata, in Ჹṛh, black, aged thirty thousand years, twenty bows tall, will have the vow for seven thousand five hundred years, and the interval between Jinas will be fifty-four lacs of years�.
2) Ჹṛh (राजगृह) is also the birth-place of ⲹṇa: one of the nine black Vāsudevas, according to the same chapter.
3) Ჹṛh (राजगृह) is the name of a city associated with Magadha, which refers to one of the 25½ countries of the ṣeٰⲹ, situated in the “middle world� (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3.—Accordingly, “In these 35 zones on this side of Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, men arise by birth; [...]. From the division into Āryas and Mlecchas they are two-fold. The Āryas have sub-divisions [e.g., ṣeٰ (country)]. [...] The ṣeٰⲹ are born in the 15 Karmabhumis. Here in Bharata they have 25½ places of origin (e.g., Magadha), distinguishable by cities (e.g., Ჹṛh) in which the birth of Tīrthakṛts, Cakrabhṛts, Kṛṣṇas, and Balas takes place�.
: WikiPedia: JainismThe city of Rajgir (ancient Ჹṛh; Pali: Ჹ) was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda, spending Chaturmas (i.e. 4 months of the rainy season) at a single place in Rajgir (Rajgruhi) and the rest in the places in the vicinity. It was the capital of one of his shravaks (follower) King Shrenik. Thus Rajgir is a very important religious place for Jains. The twentieth Jain tirthankara, Munisuvrata is supposed to have been born here. An ancient temple (about 1200 years old) dedicated to Munisuvrat bhagwan is also present here along with many other jain temples. This temple is also a place for four kalyanakas of Bhagwan Munisuvratnath.
: HereNow4u: Lord Śrī Ѳ屹īᲹṛh (राजगृह) is the name of a village visited by Ѳ屹ī during his eighth year of spiritual-exertion.—From Śakaṭamukha, passing through ‘Unnāga� and ‘Gobhūmi�, he arrived at Ჹṛh. There he spent the eighth monsoon retreat and observed fasts of four months and due austerities and completion of the ٳܰ fast, broke his fast outside the city and moved ahead. After leaving Ჹṛh, the Lord thought again that truly, it is possible to annhilate karmas only in Anārya region. Thinking thus, he again left for the Anārya Lāḍha and Śubhrabhūmi.
Ჹṛh was also visited by Ѳ屹ī during his 11th year of spiritual-exertion and during several of his years as 𱹲ī.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance�) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
: Wisdom Library: India HistoryThe capital city of the powerful kingdom of Magadha. Located in Bihar Province, India.
: archive.org: Geography in Ancient Indian inscriptionsᲹṛh (राजगृह) is another name of Ჹ, the ancient name for Rajgir.—Hathīgumpha Inscription of Khāravela mentions the city Ჹ, modern Rajgir, about fourteen miles south-west of the town of Bihar Sharif in the Bihar sub-division of Patna district.
: archive.org: Studies In Indian Literary HistoryᲹṛh (राजगृह) or Ჹṛhvana is the name of a North-Indian Tirtha (sacred place) mentioned in the Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī authored by Varadarāja (A.D. 1600-1650), a pupil of Bhaṭṭoji Dīkṣita.—Varadarāja in his Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī refers to several works which ought to be studied by a Pandit. In the same text are listed some Ghats of Benares (Varanasi). We also find in this work a list of holy places or īٳ on folio 6 of the manuscript [e.g., Ჹṛh-Բ] which appears to have been composed say between A.D. 1600 and 1650.—[Cf. the manuscript of the Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī at the Government Manuscripts Library, B.O.R. = Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona]
: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Architecture (1): Early and Classical Architecture (h)Ჹṛh (Rajgir) is an archaeologically important site dating to the Ganges civilization (1000 BCE).—Nearly a millennium after the Indus civilization had collapsed, the Ganges civilization arose in the first millennium BCE. Among the first cities were, for example, Ჹṛh in Bihar.
In Rajaṛh, a huge fortification called ‘Cyclopean Wall�, running over several kilometres around the city, consists of unhewn stones being piled one on top of the other; it was constructed in the 6th or 5th century BCE.
: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early BuddhismRājagriha is the name of the ancient capital of Magadha, one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas of the Majjhimadesa (Middle Country) of ancient India, as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—Early Pāli literature abounds in information about the Magadha country, its people, and its ancient capital Giribbaja. Magadha roughly corresponds to the modern Patna and Gayā districts of Bihar. Its earliest capital was Girivraja, or old Rājagriha, near Rājgir among the hills near Gayā. The Mahāvagga calls it Giribbaja of the Magadhas in order to distinguish it from other cities of the same name (Cf. Girivraja in Kekaya).
From the Mahāvastu we know also of Buddha’s journey from Rājagriha to Vesālī. We are told that King Bimbisāra had the road all the way from Ჹ to the Ganges decorated with flags and garlands, and that the Licchavis too had decorated the road from the Ganges to Vesālī.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryRāja-ṛh.—cf. Tamil rāja-karam (SITI); palace (cf. Ep. Ind., Vol. XXXV, p. 107) or government; officers or autho- rities; also the taxes due to the same. Cf. rājakara�-kāṇikkai, ‘customary presents to be made to the palace�; rājakara-upādi, ‘tax payable to the palace or to the government officers�. Note: Ჹ-ṛh is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary� as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
: OpenEdition books: վīٳ첹貹� (History)Ჹṛh (राजगृह) is the name of an ancient locality, associated with a traditional pilgrimage route, as is mentioned in the վīٳ첹貹 by Jinaprabhasūri (13th century A.D.): an ancient text devoted to various Jaina holy places (īٳ).
: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (history)Rajagriha refers to a certain period in the history of Indian Art.—The chronological order of the development of Indian Art as stated in The Heritage of Indian Art is as follows—[...] 4. Ჹṛh is the capital of the Empire of Magadha which comprises the period after Mahājanapada period. The influence of Pātaliputra and Nanda dynasties of 650-325 B.C., Gautama Buddha of 623-543 B.C and Ѳ屹ī of 599-527 B.C. had been seen in the art and culture of that time. The cyclopean walls of Magadha and the fortifications of Rājgir are decorated with the paintings of that time.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryᲹṛh (राजगृह).�
1) a royal dwelling, royal palace.
2) Name of a chief city in Magadha (about 75 or 8 miles from Pāṭaliputra).
Derivable forms: Ჹṛh (राजगृहम्).
Ჹṛh is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms Ჹ and ṛh (गृ�).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryᲹṛh (राजगृह).—[neuter] a king’s house, palace; [neuter] (& [feminine] ī) [Name] of a town.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ჹṛh (राजगृह):—[=Ჹ-ṛh] [from rāja > rāj] n. a king’s house, palace, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) [v.s. ...] (once f(ī). ) Name of the chief city in Magadha, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] mfn. belonging to the city Rāja-ṛh, [Vāyu-purāṇa]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम� (ṃsṛt), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpusᲹṛh (ರಾಜಗೃಹ):—[noun] the residence of a king; a palace.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryᲹṛh (राजगृह):—n. palace;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Griha, Rajan, Raja.
Starts with: Rajagrihaka, Rajagrihamahatmya, Rajagrihanirmana, Rajagrihavana.
Full-text (+289): Rajagrihanirmana, Rajagrihamahatmya, Nalanda, Vajrarajagriha, Golangulaparivartana, Rajagrihaka, Karandakanivapa, Pataliputra, Rajagaha, Gridhrakuta, Papapuri, Vipula, Shitavana, Rajagrihavana, Gunashila, Rajagahasetthi, Rajagahasamipa, Rajakirukam, Bhagnanasa, Shrenika.
Relevant text
Search found 90 books and stories containing Rajagriha, Ჹṛh, Rajagrha, Rajan-griha, Rājan-ṛh, Rajan-grha, Raja-griha, Rāja-ṛh, Raja-grha; (plurals include: Rajagrihas, Ჹṛhs, Rajagrhas, grihas, ṛhs, grhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Settlement in Early Historic Ganga Plain (by Chirantani Das)
Part 10 - Water-Drainage System (regarding Ჹṛh) < [Chapter I - The Case Study of Ჹṛh]
Part 8 - Ჹṛh: The Nodal Centre on the Emergence < [Chapter I - The Case Study of Ჹṛh]
Part 1 - Urban model of Ჹṛh < [Chapter II - Origin and Function of Ჹṛh as the seat of Monarchy]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.17.9 < [Chapter 17 - Description of the Yogurt Theft]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 6 - Buddha’s preferences for Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata < [Chapter V - Ჹṛh]
Part 5 - Buddha’s preferences for Ჹṛh < [Chapter V - Ჹṛh]
Introduction (the city of Ჹṛh) < [Chapter V - Ჹṛh]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 6: Story of Śrīmatī < [Chapter VII - The stories of Celaṇā’s one-pillared palace]
Part 29: Jarasāndha’s hostility < [Chapter II - Marriages of Vasudeva with maidens]
Part 5: Founding of Ჹṛh < [Chapter VI - Adoption of right-belief by Śreṇika]