Bimbisara’s Jail
Bimbisara’s Jail
INDIA, Bihar, Rajagriha
Bimbisara’s Jail is located about 2.5 km south of Venuvana Vihara (Bamboo Grove Monastery). This jail was the place where King Bimbisara (circa 543–491 BCE) of Magadha was imprisoned by his son Ajatasatru (reigned circa 491–459 BCE). Bimbisara was a great king who gave tremendous support to Buddhism during the time of the Buddha. However, his son Ajatasatru conspired with Devadatta to usurp the throne. He locked his father, Bimbisara, in this jail and starved him to death. The site of Bimbisara Jail was discovered in 1914.
Bimbisara Jail has an area of 60 sq m. It is enclosed by the remains of a stone wall that is about 2 m thick. It is said that from a small opening in the wall of his jail, King Bimbisara could see the Buddha climbing up Gridhakuta (Vulture Peak).
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture A-F, page 81.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Lancaster, Lewis,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture A-F},
pages = 81,
title = {{Bimbisara’s Jail}},
volume = 1,
year = {2016}}