Giryak
Giryak or Giriyak or Giriak or Giryek isan ancient Buddhist village in Nalanda district Bihar. Alexander Cunningham[1] has identified Indrasila Guha with Giryak village in Nalanda district Bihar.
Location
History
Alexander Cunningham[2] writes that Fa-Hian places the hamlet of Nalo at 1 yojana, or 7 miles, from the Hill of the Isolated Rock, that is from Giryek, and also the same distance from new Rajagriha.[3] This account agrees exactly with the position of Baragaon, with respect to Giryek and Rajgir. In the Pali annals of Ceylon also, Nalanda is stated to be 1 yojana distant from Rajagriha. Again, Hwen Thsang describes Nalanda as being 7 yojanas, or 49 miles, distant from the holy Pipal-tree at Buddha Gaya, [4]which is correct if measured by the road, the direct distance measured on the map being 40 miles. He also describes it as being about 30 li, or 5 miles, to the north of new Rajagriha. This distance and direction also correspond with the position of Baragaon, if the distance be measured from the most northerly point of the old ramparts. Lastly, in two inscriptions, which I discovered on the spot, the place itself is called Nalanda.
References
- ↑ The Ancient Geography of India: I. The Buddhist Period, Including the ...By Sir Alexander Cunningham, p.471-473
- ↑ The Ancient Geography of India: I. The Buddhist Period, Including the ...By Sir Alexander Cunningham, p.472
- ↑ Beal'a 'Fah-Hian,' c. xxviii. p. 111.
- ↑ Julien's ' Hiouen Thsang,' i. 143.