nalanda-pawapuri

Nalanda was a respected Mahavihara, a major Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar), India. Pawapuri is a Jain sanctuary. It is located in the Nalanda region of Bihar province in East India. Long ago, Pawapuri was the twin capital of Mall Mahajanpad. Mahajanpad later became part of the Magadha dynasty and Ajatshatru was devoted to King Mahavira. During the reign of Ajatshatru, the king of Pawapuri became known as Hastipal. While in Pawapuri, Mahavira lived in the royal Rajikshala. It is considered a sacred place because King Mahavira was buried here in 500 BC. Pawapuri was also given the name Apapuri which means a sinless city since King Mahavira was burned here. After the body was cremated, there was a commotion during the collection of the ashes which led to the excavation of the earth and thus the formation of a lake. The pool was later converted into a lotus pond, and a marble temple called Jalmandir was built in the center of the lake. The area is very rich in culture and has a high heritage value. Other traditional festivals celebrated here include the Rajgir Dance Festival and Chhath Puja. Various ancient dances were performed at the Rajgir Dance Festival.