Bairat or ancient Viratnagar, is said to have been founded by king Virat, in whose kingdom the five Pandavas spent the thirteenth year of exile in disguise. Viratnagar was the capital of the ancient Mahajanapada of Machcha or Matsya, and was later part of the Mauryan Empire.
The place is well-known for two Asokan inscriptions and important ancient Buddhist relics found here. Excavations carried out on the different terraces of this hill known as Bijak-ki-Pahari (Inscription Hill) have yielded remains of a Mauryan circular stupa-shrine (chaityagriha/cetiyagaha) made of lime-plastered panels of brickwork alternating with twenty-six octagonal pillars of wood, preceded by monastic remains with a double row of cells arranged around an open square courtyard. It is supposed to be the earliest shrine in India excavated so far. The western or the upper platform is 30 feet higher than the eastern or the lower one. On all four sides there are ruins of brick walls which once formed the chambers of the resident monks of this large monastery.
The earliest historical record of Bairat is that of Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang in 634 AD. According to him the capital of the kingdom of Po-li-ye-to-lo (Paryatra), was situated at 500 li to the west of Mathura and 800 li to the south-west of the kingdom of She-to-tu-lo (Shatadru). The capital was 14 or 15 li in circuit. The people were brave and bold, and their king, who was of the race of Fei-she, was famous for his courage and skill in war. The place still possessed eight Buddhist monasteries (sangharamas), but they were much ruined, and the number of monks was small who studied the Little Vehicle. The Brahmans of different sects, about 1000 in number, possessed ten temples, but their followers were numerous, as the bulk of population was described as heretical.
ए केचि भंते (2) भगवता बुधेन भासिते सर्वे से सुभासिते वा.
ए चु खो भंते हमियाये दिसेया हेवं सधंमे (3) चिलठितीके होसती ति अलहामि हकं तं वातवे.
इमानि भंते धंमपलियायानि विनयसमुकसे (4) अलियवसाणि अनागतभयानि मुनिगाथा मोनेयसूते उपतिसपसिने इ चा लाघुलो- (5) -वादे मुसावादं अधिगिच्य भगवता बुधेन भासिते एतानि भंते धंमपलियायानि इछामि (6) किंति बहुके भिखुपाये चा भिखुनिये चा अभिखिनं सुनेयु चा उपधालयेयू चा. (7)
हेवंमेवा उपासका चा उपासिका चा.
एतेनि भंते इमं लिखापयामि अभिप्रेतं मे जानंतू ति. (8)
The place is well-known for two Asokan inscriptions and important ancient Buddhist relics found here. Excavations carried out on the different terraces of this hill known as Bijak-ki-Pahari (Inscription Hill) have yielded remains of a Mauryan circular stupa-shrine (chaityagriha/cetiyagaha) made of lime-plastered panels of brickwork alternating with twenty-six octagonal pillars of wood, preceded by monastic remains with a double row of cells arranged around an open square courtyard. It is supposed to be the earliest shrine in India excavated so far. The western or the upper platform is 30 feet higher than the eastern or the lower one. On all four sides there are ruins of brick walls which once formed the chambers of the resident monks of this large monastery.
The earliest historical record of Bairat is that of Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang in 634 AD. According to him the capital of the kingdom of Po-li-ye-to-lo (Paryatra), was situated at 500 li to the west of Mathura and 800 li to the south-west of the kingdom of She-to-tu-lo (Shatadru). The capital was 14 or 15 li in circuit. The people were brave and bold, and their king, who was of the race of Fei-she, was famous for his courage and skill in war. The place still possessed eight Buddhist monasteries (sangharamas), but they were much ruined, and the number of monks was small who studied the Little Vehicle. The Brahmans of different sects, about 1000 in number, possessed ten temples, but their followers were numerous, as the bulk of population was described as heretical.
प्रियदसि लाजा मागधे संघं अभिवादेतूनं आहा अपाबाधतं च फासु विहालतं चा. (1)
विदिते वे भंते आवतके हमा बुधसि धंमसि संघसी ति गालवे चं प्रसादे च.ए केचि भंते (2) भगवता बुधेन भासिते सर्वे से सुभासिते वा.
ए चु खो भंते हमियाये दिसेया हेवं सधंमे (3) चिलठितीके होसती ति अलहामि हकं तं वातवे.
इमानि भंते धंमपलियायानि विनयसमुकसे (4) अलियवसाणि अनागतभयानि मुनिगाथा मोनेयसूते उपतिसपसिने इ चा लाघुलो- (5) -वादे मुसावादं अधिगिच्य भगवता बुधेन भासिते एतानि भंते धंमपलियायानि इछामि (6) किंति बहुके भिखुपाये चा भिखुनिये चा अभिखिनं सुनेयु चा उपधालयेयू चा. (7)
हेवंमेवा उपासका चा उपासिका चा.
एतेनि भंते इमं लिखापयामि अभिप्रेतं मे जानंतू ति. (8)
The Magadha King Priyadasi, having saluted the Sangha, hopes they are both well and comfortable.
(lit. pronounce both being in good health and being of pleasant life)
It is known to you, Sirs, how great is my reverence and faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha.
Whatsoever, Sirs, has been spoken by the blessed Buddha, all that is quite well spoken.
But, Sirs, what would indeed appear to me, "thus the true Dhamma will be of long duration", that I feel bound to declare.
(diseya is optative of dissati)
The following expositions of the Dhamma, Sirs, Vinaya-samukasa, Aliyavasas, Anagata-bhayas, Munigathas, Moneyasuta, Upatisa-pasina, and Laghulovada which was spoken by the Blessed Buddha concerning falsehood,-- I desire, Sirs, that many groups of monks and nunsmay repeatedly listen to these expositions of the Dhamma, and may reflect.
(Vinaya-samukasa - Buddha's first sermon; Aliyavasas and Anagata-bhayas are in Anguttara Nikaya; Munigathas, Moneyasuta and Upatisa-pasina are in Sutta-nipata; Laghulovada is in Majjhima-nikaya)
In the same way both laymen and laywomen.
For the following, Sirs, am I causing this to be written, in order that they may know my intention.
