Raw data
Xuanzang visited this site from March to September, 637 AD. He found 10 monasteries and 1000 monks. i do not have, as yet, a location for this site. It is mentioned in Ahir, but no location given.
Src: IN
Input by: SG January 22 2009
The Archaeological Survey of India conducted excavations in 1903 at Basarh, located in the Tirhut division of the Muzaffarpur District of Bengal. Though they did not find the monastery described by Hsuan Zang (c. 640), the site matches his description. There had been much removal of brick from the site for modern buildings. ACI Annual Report 1903/4
Src: India
Input by: SG Feb 18 2009
"… the city of Vaiśālī (Basarh in north Bihār). …"
www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/575702/Susunaga
Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 7, page 94 — Imperial Gazetteer …
"situated in 25° 59 N. and 85° 8 E. Population (1901), 3,527. Basarh is identified with the capital of the ancient kingdom of Vaisali. …"
dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V07_100.gif
(i.e. lat 25.98333333, long 85.13333333)
"Vaisali is located in the Bihar state of India. The history of the city finds mention in the Mahabharata as well as in Buddhist and Jain tradition. The district headquarters of Vaisali is Hajipur town. The city was earlier known as Muzzafarpur district. At the time of Buddha, Vaisali was a rich and prosperous city. Mahavira, the founder of Jainism was born here and he spent most of his time here.
[…]
The district of Vaishali came in to existence on 12/10/1972. Earlier it was the part of old Muzzafarpur district.
Geography of Vaisali
Vaishali district is a part of Tirhut division. The town of Vaisali is also known as Visala. Outside the town, leading uninterruptedly up to the Himalaya, is the Mahavana, a large, natural forest. Near by are other forests, such as Gosingalasála. The location of Vaishali is at the following coordinates: Coordinates: 25.986595° N 85.125589° E.
Places of Interest in Vaisali:
Relic stupa which contains the relics of Lord Mahavira.
Kutagarasala Vihara is the monastery where Buddha most frequently stayed while visiting Vaishali."
[…]
http://www.indianetzone.com/4/vaisali.htm
Input by: tmciolek Feb 24 2009
Vais’ali [Vesaliya - Pali, Wisala - Singhalese ] Ancient republic and city (near Bassahar, N. of Patna). A place of the 2nd synod (443 BC). (Eitel 1888:192-193). Videha is another name for Vais’ali and the region near Mathava.
Input by: tmciolek Mar 1 2009
Final data (and their sources)
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 2 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Vaisali monastic cluster, India.
lat=25.98333333 long=85.13333333
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://maps.fallingrain.com), 2009.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Vaiśālī monastery (Src: IN Input by: SG January 22 2009)
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- India:State of Bihar
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Vesali monastery - Enc. Britannica (1966a:358)
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx. Lat 25.98333333 Long 85.13333333 http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V07_100.gif
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
- Kūtāgārasālā monastery
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Bassahar (Eitel 1888:192-193)
- Vais’ali (Eitel 1888:192-193)
- Vaisali http://www.indianetzone.com/4/vaisali.htm
- Vaishali http://www.indianetzone.com/4/vaisali.htm
- Vesaliya (Eitel 1888:192-193)
- Videha (Eitel 1888:192-193)
- Wisala (Eitel 1888:192-193)
- Vesali (Enc. Britannica 1966a:358)
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Approx. Lat 25.986595 Long 85.125589 http://www.indianetzone.com/4/vaisali.htm
- Approx. Lat 25.98333333 Long 85.13333333 http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V07_100.gif
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- Theravada? Mahayana?
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
final data ….
11. Date-early
- Fifth century BCE
12. Date-intermediate
- 630's CE (Xuanzang's visit)
13. Date-late
final data ….
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
final data ….
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- archaeological, texts.
16. Additional notes
final data (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)….
- In 637 AD - 10 monasteries and 1,000 monks (Src: IN Input by: SG January 22 2009)
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
final data ….
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