राजगीर rājagīr
‘King’s Mansion’ [Rājagṛha, Rājagaha] City/District, Bihar
From Skt: rāja, ‘prince’, ‘king’; gṛha, ‘house’, ‘mansion’.
Rajgir has an ancient history dating back to the Magadha and Mauryan Empires. It was the capital of the Magadha dynasty until the 5thC BCE.
The 3-4thC Son Bhandar/Sonebhandar caves are located at Rajgir. They have a range of Jain idols reliefs and carvings. Close by are the Brahmakund hot water springs, a sacred Hindu Saptarshi site where seven different springs merge and multiply each other’s healing properties. The name means ‘reserves’ or ‘store’ of gold [ Hin: sona, ‘gold’; bhandār, ‘store’, ‘reserve’] so there is probably hidden treasure here.
There are 6 towns, villages or districts called Rajgir(i) in India.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Bihar place names.
