Griddhraj Parvat
Encyclopedia
Griddhraj Parvat (English: Vulture Peak, Hindi
: गृद्घराज पर्वत), which literally means the hill of vultures, is a hill of religious, archeological and ecological importance situated in Devrajnagar village of tehsil Ramnagar
in Satna
district of Madhya Pradesh
, India
. It is located at a distance of 8 km from Ramnagar town and 65 km from Satna in south direction. Its latitude
and longitude
are 24°18' North and 81°15' East. The altitude
of the hill is 2354 feet. The hill is situated between Kaimur Range in the north and Maikal hills
in the south.
The place is of archeological importance. There are four caves on the hill in which Rock painting and mural
paintings are visible.
An annual fair is organized every year in the month of Magha on the occasion of Vasant Panchami
. Thousands of people come and take a dip in the Ganges River
.
. It has been mentioned in Skanda Purana
as ‘Griddhanchal Parvat’ (page 208). It is believed to be the birthplace of ‘Sampati
’, the brother of Griddhraj ‘Jatayu
’ mentioned in Ramayana
. The poet Kalidas mentions about this place as the most sacred in his book ‘Griddharaj Mahatmya’ (Narad Uvach) in Sanskrit
language. He has written that a dip in the Mānasī Ganga River originating from Griddhraj Parvat, at an altitude of 2354 feet, is a saviour of all kinds of sins. Sons of Brahma
and then goddess Parvati first saw this hill. It finds mention in Shiva Samhita
(Chapter 19-Bhoogol varnan).
pilgrim Fa-hien
had visited probably a different, Buddhist holy place with the same name (Vulture Peak in Rajgir
, 25.0019812°N 85.4467034°E) and has mentioned it as Gridhra-kuta Hill in Chapter XXIX (see also James Legge
):
Chapter XXIX : GRIDHRA-KUTA HILL, AND LEGENDS. FA-HIEN PASSES A NIGHT ON IT. HIS REFLECTIONS.
Shanti Stupa
, Buddhist sacred monument, is located near the peak (25°00′16"N 85°26′40"E).
as is noted in the first several lines of the sutra
In addition, the Saddharmapundarika Sutra (also known as the Lotus Sutra
) and the Suramgamasamadhi sutra
, as well as many other Prajnaparamita
Sutras were first taught there as well.
s not only in India but the world also. Vultures in number of thousands can be seen in the crevices of the hill rocks. The vulture species seen here are long billed vulture (Gips indicus) and White backed vulture (Gips bengalensis). Apart from vultures it is also the habitat of number of wild animals
.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
: गृद्घराज पर्वत), which literally means the hill of vultures, is a hill of religious, archeological and ecological importance situated in Devrajnagar village of tehsil Ramnagar
Ramnagar, Madhya Pradesh
Ramnagar is a town in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. It is located on the Son River in Satna District, approximately 60 kilometers from the city of Satna.Ramnagar was formerly in the control of the BaghelVans or BaghelRajah of Rewa District....
in Satna
Satna
Satna is a city in central India and a municipal corporation in Satna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Satna District. Satna is a border city of the state and is touched by the borders of the state of UttarPradesh.-History:Satna got its name...
district of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is located at a distance of 8 km from Ramnagar town and 65 km from Satna in south direction. Its latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
and longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
are 24°18' North and 81°15' East. The altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of the hill is 2354 feet. The hill is situated between Kaimur Range in the north and Maikal hills
Maikal Hills
The Maikal Hills are range of hills in the state of Chhattisgarh India. The Maikal Hills are an eastern part of the Satpuras in Kawardha District of Chattisgarh, overlooking the scenic town of Kawardha. they have an altitude ranging from 340 m to 941 m above sea level. It is a picturesque spot in...
in the south.
The place is of archeological importance. There are four caves on the hill in which Rock painting and mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
paintings are visible.
An annual fair is organized every year in the month of Magha on the occasion of Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami , sometimes referred to as Vasant Panchami or Shree Panchami , is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh , the first day of spring...
. Thousands of people come and take a dip in the Ganges River
Ganges River
The Ganges or Ganga, , is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. By discharge it...
.
In Hindu mythology
Griddhraj Parvat is of great religious importance in Hindu mythologyHindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
. It has been mentioned in Skanda Purana
Skanda Purana
The Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapurana, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts. The text is devoted mainly to the lilas of Kartikeya , a son of Shiva and Parvati. It also contains a number of legends about Shiva, and the holy places associated with him...
as ‘Griddhanchal Parvat’ (page 208). It is believed to be the birthplace of ‘Sampati
Sampati
In Hindu theology, Sampati was one of the two sons of Aruṇa and was the brother of Jatayu...
’, the brother of Griddhraj ‘Jatayu
Jatayu (Ramayana)
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Jatayu is the son of Aruṇa and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, he was an old friend of Dasharatha . He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita...
’ mentioned in Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
. The poet Kalidas mentions about this place as the most sacred in his book ‘Griddharaj Mahatmya’ (Narad Uvach) in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
language. He has written that a dip in the Mānasī Ganga River originating from Griddhraj Parvat, at an altitude of 2354 feet, is a saviour of all kinds of sins. Sons of Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
and then goddess Parvati first saw this hill. It finds mention in Shiva Samhita
Shiva Samhita
Shiva Samhita is a Sanskrit text on yoga, written by an unknown author. The text is addressed by the Hindu god Shiva to his consort Parvati . It is one of three major surviving classical treatises on hatha yoga, the other two being Gheranda Samhita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika...
(Chapter 19-Bhoogol varnan).
Mention by Fa-hien
Chinese BuddhistBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
pilgrim Fa-hien
Faxian
Faxian was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India, Sri Lanka and Kapilavastu in today's Nepal between 399 and 412 to acquire Buddhist scriptures...
had visited probably a different, Buddhist holy place with the same name (Vulture Peak in Rajgir
Rajgir
Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in the Indian state of Bihar. The city of Rajgir was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating to about 1000 BC have...
, 25.0019812°N 85.4467034°E) and has mentioned it as Gridhra-kuta Hill in Chapter XXIX (see also James Legge
James Legge
James Legge was a noted Scottish sinologist, a Scottish Congregationalist, representative of the London Missionary Society in Malacca and Hong Kong , and first professor of Chinese at Oxford University...
):
Chapter XXIX : GRIDHRA-KUTA HILL, AND LEGENDS. FA-HIEN PASSES A NIGHT ON IT. HIS REFLECTIONS.
- "Entering the valley, and keeping along the mountains on the south-east, after ascending fifteen le, (the travellers) came to mount Gridhra-kuta.(1) Three le before you reach the top, there is a cavern in the rocks, facing the south, in which BuddhaGautama BuddhaSiddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
sat in meditation. Thirty paces to the north-west there is another, where AnandaAnandaĀnanda was one of the principal disciples and a devout attendant of the Buddha. Amongst the Buddha's many disciples, Ānanda had the most retentive memory and most of the suttas in the Sutta Pitaka are attributed to his recollection of the Buddha's teachings during the First Buddhist Council...
was sitting in meditation, when the deva Mara Pisuna,(2) having assumed the form of a large vulture, took his place in front of the cavern, and frightened the disciple. Then Buddha, by his mysterious, supernatural power, made a cleft in the rock, introduced his hand, and stroked Ananda's shoulder, so that his fear immediately died. The footprints of the bird and the cleft for (Buddha's) hand are still there, and hence comes the name of "The Hill of the Vulture Cavern."
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa
Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh district, Ladakh, in the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura . The Shanti Stupa holds the relics of the Buddha at its base, enshrined by the 14th Dalai...
, Buddhist sacred monument, is located near the peak (25°00′16"N 85°26′40"E).
In Buddhist Sutra
Vulture Peak Mountain is, by tradition, the site where Gautama Buddha taught the Heart SutraHeart Sutra
The Heart Sūtra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra. Its Sanskrit name literally translates to "Heart of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom." The Heart Sūtra is often cited as the best known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures.-Introduction:The Heart Sūtra is a member of the Perfection of...
as is noted in the first several lines of the sutra
http://www.lamrim.com/hhdl/heartsutra.html
Thus have I heard: At one time, the Bhgavan dwelt in Rajagriah at Vulture Peak Mountain
together with a great sangha of fully ordained monks and a great sangha of bodhisattvas
In addition, the Saddharmapundarika Sutra (also known as the Lotus Sutra
Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sūtra is one of the most popular and influential Mahāyāna sūtras, and the basis on which the Tiantai and Nichiren sects of Buddhism were established.-Title:...
) and the Suramgamasamadhi sutra
Suramgamasamadhi sutra
The Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sūtra is an early Mahayana sutra of Indian origin which focuses on the transcendental nature, supernatural powers, and transformational feats bestowed upon the meditation practitioner by the state of meditation called the Śūraṅgama Samādhi or the "Samādhi of the Heroic...
, as well as many other Prajnaparamita
Prajnaparamita
Prajñāpāramitā in Buddhism, means "the Perfection of Wisdom." The word Prajñāpāramitā combines the Sanskrit words prajñā with pāramitā . Prajñāpāramitā is a central concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism and its practice and understanding are taken to be indispensable elements of the Bodhisattva Path...
Sutras were first taught there as well.
Habitat of vultures
Griddhraj Parvat is a unique habitat of vultureVulture
Vulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved scavenging birds, the New World Vultures including the well-known Californian and Andean Condors, and the Old World Vultures including the birds which are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead animals on African plains...
s not only in India but the world also. Vultures in number of thousands can be seen in the crevices of the hill rocks. The vulture species seen here are long billed vulture (Gips indicus) and White backed vulture (Gips bengalensis). Apart from vultures it is also the habitat of number of wild animals
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
.