1894.] G. A. Grierson —Image of the Buddha found at Bdjagrha. 
35 
On a Stone Image of the Buddha found at Bdjagrha .—By G. A. 
Grierson, C. I. E., I. C. S. 
(With Plate II.) 
[Read, April, 1894.] 
The image, of which a photograph accompanies this paper, was dug 
up by me some five years ago on the summit of Qaila-giri, a mountain 
about five miles to the S.-E. of the modern town of Raj’gir. The 
mountain is one of those which surround the old valley of Rajagrha, 
and is undoubtedly the same as the Grdhra-kuta of the Chinese 
pilgrims. It has been visited by Mr. Broadley and by Mr. Beglar 
(vide Hep. Arch. Surv. Ind., Vol. VIII), but has never been thoroughly 
investigated. The site would well repay judicious excavation. Owing 
to the thorny jungle with which the hill is covered, and the steepness 
of the ascent, a visit to the spot is no easy climb. 
Fa Hian thus describes it : l — “ Entering the valley and striking the 
mountains to the south-east, ascending 15 li , we arrive at the hill called 
Grdhra-kuta. Three li from the top is a stone cavern facing the south. 
Buddha used in this place to sit in meditation. Thirty paces to the 
north-west is another stone cell in which Ananda practised meditation. 3 
The Deva Mara P^una, having assumed the form of a vulture, took 
his place before the cavern and terrified Ananda. Buddha by his 
spiritual power pierced the rock, and with his outstretched hand patted 
Ananda’s shoulder. On this his fear was allayed, the traces of the 
bird and of the hand-hole are still quite plain. On this account the 
hill is called ‘The Hill of the Vulture-Cave ’ * * * * Here, also, 
when Buddha was walking to and fro from east to west, in front of his 
cell, Devadatta, from between the northern eminences of the mountain 
rolled down athwart his path a stone which wounded Buddha’s toe ; 
the stone is still there. The hall in which Buddha preached has been 
destroyed, but the foundations of the brick walls still exist.” 
1 Beal’s translation, xxix. 
2 Both these caves still exist, and can be readily identified by a cleft in the rock 
which unites them. 
