Rājagaha｜The Life of the Buddha

Modern Location References

Approximate reference

Mapped to modern Rajgir as in the original text; the modern town's coordinates are used and do not represent the exact position of the ancient walls or of any building.

View Rājagaha on the modern map

Region: Magadha (the Rājagaha area)

Related Events (45)

The Buddha at 29

Alms round at Rājagaha; the king offers to share his kingdom

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

King Bimbisāra meets the Buddha, attains the first fruit and takes refuge

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

Sakka in the form of a youth leads the way, and the king serves the meal with his own hands

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

King Bimbisāra donates the Bamboo Grove

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

Sāriputta and Moggallāna go forth

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

Moggallāna and then Sāriputta attain arahantship

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

The people of Rājagaha blame the Buddha for leaving families without heirs

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

A rule is laid down: the newly ordained must have a preceptor

Year 2 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 36

The Buddha keeps the second rains retreat in the Bamboo Grove at Rājagaha

Year 3 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 37

The Buddha keeps the third rains retreat at Rājagaha

Year 4 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 38

The Buddha keeps the fourth rains retreat at Rājagaha

Year 4 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 38

Full ordination changed to a formal act of the Sangha

Year 5 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 39

The Sangha without offence for five years after the Awakening (Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya)

Year 6 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 40

Anāthapiṇḍika takes refuge and builds the Jetavana monastery

Year 6 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 40

The second to fourth of the gravest rules as recorded in the Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya

Year 7 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 41

Piṇḍola takes a bowl by supernormal power, and the Buddha forbids displays of supernormal power

Year 10 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 44

A rule is laid down: one of fewer than ten years' standing may not act as preceptor

Year 11 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 45

The Buddha answers the ploughing brahmin: “Faith is the seed”

Year 17 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 51

The Buddha keeps his 17th rains retreat at Rājagaha

Year 18 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 52

The Buddha keeps his 18th rains retreat on Mount Cāliya

Year 20 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 54

The Buddha keeps his 20th rains retreat at Rājagaha

Year 38 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 72

Devadatta wins the devotion of Prince Ajātasattu with his supernormal powers

Year 38 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 72

Devadatta demands to take over the Sangha, and the Buddha refuses

Year 38 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 72

Ajātasattu plots against his father, and Bimbisāra abdicates

Year 38 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 72

King Bimbisāra is put to death by his son Ajātasattu

Year 38 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 72

Devadatta plots against the Buddha's life: assassins, a boulder and a drunken elephant

Year 38 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 72

Devadatta makes five demands and splits the Sangha

Year 45 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 79 to 80

King Ajātasattu sends a minister to ask about attacking the Vajjians

Year 45 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 79 to 80

The Buddha teaches several sets of conditions for the non-decline of the Sangha

Year 45 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 79 to 80

At Rājagaha the Buddha often teaches virtue, concentration and wisdom

Year 45 after the Awakening · The Buddha at 79 to 80

Sāriputta and Moggallāna pass away before the Buddha

After the passing · After the Buddha's final nirvana

King Ajātasattu learns of the Buddha's passing

After the passing · After the Buddha's final nirvana

What followed: Mahākassapa initiates the First Council

Events of uncertain year