Archeological Survey Report. XXV 
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inscription, which is not later than A. D. 200, and is perhaps earlier, 
records that a certain “ Muni named Vaira Deva, of powerful dignity, 
was able to obtain emancipation, having shut himself up for spiritual 
enjoyment in this auspicious cell, a retired abode of Arhantas, fitted 
for an ascetic for the attainment of liberation.’ On the east jamb 
of the door also the same epithet is applied to this cave, as if it was 
a well known name for it. As the scene of the first Buddhist Synod, 
it was an object of reverence to every pious follower of Buddha. It 
was accordingly visited by both of the Chinese pilgrims, whose * 
records enable us to identify beyond any possibility .the present Son 
Bhandar Cave as the famous Satapanni Cave of the Buddhists. 
62. In the centre of the valley between the five hills, and in the 
very midst of the old city of Rajagriha, there is a ruined brick mound 
19 feet 8 inches in height, which my excavations proved to be an an- 
ecient stupa. A diminutive Jain temple, called Manidr Math, stands on 
the top of the mound. It was built in A. D. 1780. As I expected 
to find a solid brick building, I sank a shaft outside the Maniaér Math 
with the intention of inclining gradually towards the centre ; but I soon 
found that the core of the mound was a mere mass of rubbish, filling 
a well 10 feet in diameter. ‘This rubbish was so loose that its removal 
was dangerous; but by propping up the portion immediately below 
the little temple, and removing the bricks cautiously, I was enabled 
to get down to a depth of 21% feet. At 19 feet I found three small 
figures. One of them represents Maya lying on a couch in the lower 
compartment, and the ascetic Buddha and two attendants above. 
The second is a naked standing figure with a seven-headed snake 
forming a canopy over the head. This is clearly not a Buddhist, 
but a Jain sculpture. The third is so excessively rude that it is 
difficult to identify it. The figure is four-armed, and is seated upon 
a recumbent animal, which looks more like a bull than any thing 
else. It probably therefore represents Mahadeva and his bull Nanda. 
As all three figures formed only a part of the rubbish, it seems to 
me certain that the well must once have been empty; and further, 
that the rubbish was most probably thrown in when the little Jain 
temple was about to be built. 
63. The natives of the place call this well the treasury, and they 
assert that it has never been opened. On my arrival I found a 
Punjab Sepoy, with a servant, making an excavation on his own 
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