Thoughts And Trivia

(<-A modern Japanese Pagoda on the banks of Coronation Tank of Vaishali)
On my recent visit to the archaeological remains of the ancient city of Vaishali, I tried to feel how it must hae been to live in those times. Its a sobering experience and makes you respect people who lived then.
Vaishali, a city in North Bihar, India is known to have existed since at least 6th century B.C. It was very large, very populous and rich. It was also the capital of the state of Vaishali. The legend has it that one of the earlier king, "Nabhaga" abdicated the throne due to an accusation about Human Rights violation and is believed to have declared: "I am now a free tiller of the soil, king over my acre". The city then declared itself a democratic Republic - the first democracy of the world - much earlier than the ones in Greece.

(<-The earliest of Ashokan Lion pillars. Unlike later ones it has no religious edict engraved on it. On right is an irreverent look at the butt of the lion. The lion's facial expression is pathetic not majestic or ferocious - where have you strung me up?)
The place is also linked with the lives of Mahatma Buddha and Mahavira (the 24th incarnation of Jain Religion). Buddha spent most of his last years here. During this time, the place was famous for its courtesan - Amrapali. She is the focus of many legends and stories of that time for her beauty and wealth. Modern day Hindi Novel - "Vaishali Ki Nagar Vadhu" (Vaishali's City Bride) is also about her. Buddha's influence (or is it vice-versa) converted her to a female-monk, for which Buddha broke his rule of allowing only men-folk as monks. This change almost broke the Buddhist community into two warring sides (shades of "Helen of Troy").
There are now many archaeological remains in the area. Most of these show layers of construction in various periods of the history - from 6th century B.C. till 7th century AD.

Posted by Girish Bhatnagar at Saturday, August 16, 2008