Lekhachitra963 at 03:18, 3 April 2026

2026-04-03T03:18:31Z

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{{Short description|Buddhist monastery in Bihar, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Jivakarama vihara
| image = Jivakambavana.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| alt =
| caption = Remains of the Jivakarama vihara.
| map_type = India
|relief=yes
| map_size = 250
| location = [[Rajgir]], [[Bihar]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|24.9953334|85.433397|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]]
| rite =
| region = [[Bihar]]
| state =
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| prefecture =
| sector =
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| consecration_year = 6th-5th century BCE
| status = Vihara ruins
| functional_status = Artifacts removed
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The '''Jivakarama vihara''',<ref>According to the Pali Text Society's Pali-English dictionary (Chipstead, 1921-1925), p. 108, the suffix, ''-ārāma'', refers to "a private park, given to the Buddha or the Sangha for the benefit of the bhikkhus, where they meet & hold discussions about sacred & secular matters; a place of recreation and meditation, a meeting place for religious gatherings" (online: https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/pali_query.py?qs=%C4%81r%C4%81ma&searchhws=yes&matchtype=exact).</ref> also '''Jivaka Amravana vihara''' (''Amra-vana'' means "mango garden"),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ahir |first1=D. C. |title=Buddhist Shrines in India |date=1986 |publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation |isbn=9788170183266 |page=67 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BaPYAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref> '''Jivakamravana''', '''Jivakamrabana''' or '''Jivakavanarama''', is an ancient [[Buddhist]] monastery, or [[vihara]], established at the time of the [[Buddha]].<ref name=BA48>{{cite book |last1=Le |first1=Huu Phuoc |title=Buddhist Architecture |date=2010 |publisher=Grafikol |isbn=9780984404308 |pages=48–49 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jb364g4BvoC&pg=PA48 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=PM178>"The rubble-built building complex of Jivakamravana at Rajgir probably represents one of the earliest monasteries of India dating from the Buddha's time." in {{cite book |last1=Mishra |first1=Phanikanta |last2=Mishra |first2=Vijayakanta |title=Researches in Indian archaeology, art, architecture, culture and religion: Vijayakanta Mishra commemoration volume |date=1995 |publisher=Sundeep Prakashan |isbn=9788185067803 |page=178 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nN1tAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tadgell |first1=Christopher |title=The East: Buddhists, Hindus and the Sons of Heaven |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781136753831 |page=498 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTbbCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT48 |language=en}}</ref>

The location, on the outside of [[Rajagriha]] in [[Nalanda district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Bihar]], just below the [[Gijjhakuta hill]], was originally a [[mango]] orchard which was donated to the [[sangha]] by the famous royal doctor [[Jivaka]], who was in the service of king [[Bimbisara]].<ref name=BA48/> Jivaka built a monastery on the location and also donated it to the sangha.<ref>Archaeological Survey of India [[:File:Jivakarama ASI notice.jpg|on-site notice]]</ref> The [[Buddha]] is said to have been treated once in the monastery, after having been injured by [[Devadatta]].<ref name=BA48/><ref>{{cite book |title=Monuments of Bihar |date=2011 |publisher=Department of Art, Culture & Youth, Government of Bihar |pages=Jivakarama vihara entry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B1cdp3hsUXgC |language=en}}</ref>

The initial monastery was formed of two long parallel and oblong halls, large dormitories where the monks could eat and sleep, in conformity with the original regulations of the sangha, without any private cells.<ref name=BA48/> Other halls were then constructed, mostly long, oblong building as well, which remind of the oblong construction of several of the [[Barabar caves]].<ref name=BA48/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Handa |first1=O. C. |last2=Hāṇḍā |first2=Omacanda |title=Buddhist Art & Antiquities of Himachal Pradesh, Upto 8th Century A.D. |date=1994 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=9788185182995 |page=162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Cqgb9pL3L4C&pg=PA162 |language=en}}</ref>

The archaeological evidence point to a very early construction for this vihara, probably circa 530-400 BCE.<ref name=BA48/><ref name=PM178/> This vihara is very different from the later quadrangular vihara built from the 1st century CE in [[Gandhara]].<ref name=BA48/> The absence of [[stupa]] is also noticeable, contrary to the viharas built with stupas at a later date.<ref name=BA48/> The construction method (rubble foundation) and artifacts discovered on the spot, such as iron nails, terracotta balls or coarse red pottery all point to a date no later than the 5th century BCE.<ref name=BA48/>

[[File:Jivakambavana..jpg|thumb|center|upright=2|A Buddhist monk at the monastery.]]

<gallery>
Jivakambavana, Rajgir.jpg|Ruins.
Jivakambavana.jpg|Ruins.
Jivakarama oblong communal hall.jpg|Oblong communal hall (remains).
Jivakarama ASI notice.jpg|Archaeological Survey of India notice.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Portal|History|India|Religion}}{{Authority control}}
{{Commons category|Jivakarama vihara}}

[[Category:Buddhist holy sites in Bihar]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Bihar]]
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:6th century BC in India]]
[[Category:5th century BC in India]]
[[Category:6th-century BC religious buildings and structures]]
[[Category:5th-century BC religious buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bihar]]

Jivakarama vihara - Revision history

Lekhachitra963 at 03:18, 3 April 2026