Influenced by the teachings and teachings of Mahatma Buddha, many people took a bhikkhus and started joining the Buddhist Sangha. This caused a great blow to the Chatur-Ashram system of ancient times, because men and women renounced worldly life at a young age and started living in Viharas wearing the Kashaya clothes of monks. King, Shresthi and householder generously donated Buddhist monasteries, due to which many splendid viharas were established in different cities of the country.
These viharas were also important centers of education, in which Acharyas and Upadhyayas used to teach. The place of the Acharya clans or Gurukulas of the Aryans was now taken by the Viharas. In ancient times, the nature of Acharyakul was like a family, in which there was a father-son relationship between the teacher and the disciples, but this was not possible in Buddhist monasteries, because the number of monks or students receiving education in them could be in hundreds or thousands. Started. The monks did not even need alms for their food, etc., because Buddhist monasteries were often very rich and full of wealth.
In these viharas the students lived a community life. A large number of Upadhyayas and teachers were appointed for his teaching. They had to follow those rules, which have been rendered in the Vinaya Pitaka. This is how the Nalanda and Vikramshila universities and Shravasti and Vallabhi viharas flourished. The entire system of Buddhist educational institutions was in the hands of Buddhist monks, whether it was a small Buddhist sangha or a large one. The management of sanghas, viharas and universities was under the direction of a distinguished scholar, who was chosen from among the monks by the votes of the members of the sangha. Such a manager was a leader in his knowledge and scholarship. Nalanda University, which was earlier a Buddhist Sangha, later became famous worldwide as an educational institution.
Buddhism in Rajasthan
Although Mahatma Buddha never came towards Rajasthan, but due to the adoption of Buddhism by some Maurya kings of Magadha, Buddhism reached Kafiristan (Bactria) from Magadha to Taxila, Kabul and Kandahar, so it was natural that on this route Buddhism also found its footing in Rajasthan. Buddhism in Rajasthan can be estimated to have existed from the rise of the Maurya Empire (4th century BC) to the fall of the Gupta Empire (5th century AD). This time can be from some earlier to some later.
Buddhist Monuments in Rajasthan
After the nirvana of Mahatma Buddha, 84 thousand stupas were built all over India with his ashes, some of which were also built in Rajasthan. After him a large number of Buddhist temples, monasteries, caves, chaityas etc. were also built. Many inscriptions were also put up from time to time. No stupas are now found in Rajasthan, but the remains of the Baddha stupas have been identified at three places.
In Rajasthan, sculptures of Buddha have been found in archaeological excavations at many sites and at many places notable ancient monuments, caves and inscriptions of Buddhism have been found. The pieces of utensils used by Buddhist monks have also been found in large numbers. All this archaeological material is preserved in various museums. Due to their presence it is not difficult to guess that the influence of Buddhism on the people of Rajasthan was very wide and deep.
Ashok Kaleen Memorial
The oldest relics of Mauryan civilization in Rajasthan have been found from Bairath. For this reason it is also called Bairath civilization. It is situated 75 km north of Jaipur, in the middle of a circular valley amidst the red colored Aravalli hills. These hills are famous for the presence of copper metal. Among the hills located here, Bhima's Dungri, Ganeshgiri caves and Bijar hills are more famous. Biratnagar was a prominent place even in the Mahabharata period. The sons of Pandu had spent the last year of their exile here as anonymity. A huge store of archaeological material has been obtained from this area.
Bhabru Inscription
An inscription of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka has been found from the Bhabru hill of Biratnagar which was transferred to the Asiatic Society of Bengal (Calcutta) in AD 1840. This inscription was unearthed by Captain Burt in AD 1840. Its lithograph was prepared by Captain Kitoi. This inscription is unique from the point of view that all the inscriptions of Ashoka are inscribed on the stone pillars, but the Bhabru inscription is inscribed on the rock or rock plate.
In this, Ashoka has selected seven preaching passages from seven Buddhist texts like Muni-Sutta, Shrenagat Bhayani, Uppatipehi and Rahulo Vadasutta etc., for the study and contemplation of monks and shramans. This hill is uninhabited nowadays, but surely a large number of Buddhist monks must have lived in this area during that period, hence this inscription must have been placed here.
Bhimji ki Dungri inscription
About one and a half kilometers north-east of Bairath, an obscure inscription is visible under Bhimji's dungaree. This inscription can be said to be the Bairath version of the inscription at Roopnath (Sasaram, Bihar). It was discovered by Carlyle in AD 1871-72. The excavated section is 17 feet high and 24 feet long from west to east. It is 15 feet long from north to south. It was edited by Dr. Bulhar and Senart. In this inscription, Ashoka has admitted that he did not make much effort for the promotion of Buddhism in the state of worship.
A year after his entry into the Sangha, he started preaching Buddhism. A genuine effort made for the promotion of religion never goes in vain and the fruit of such effort is equally available to all, whether they are rich or poor. In this inscription, Ashoka has expressed the hope of spreading his religion to all corners of the state and has also encouraged the officials of his state for this work.
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The Relics Are In Two Levels
After reading the inscriptions of Bijak's hill and Bhimji's Dungri, Dayaram Sahni had decided to excavate the mounds here. When excavated to a depth of about 20-25 feet, Buddhist carpet material started appearing. The remains of Chaitya (Buddhist temple) were found after excavating about 27 feet below. Both levels are connected by stairs.