Hiranyavati River in
Kushinagar and Buddha
Kushinagar administration has initiated restoration of
ancient 50Km Hiranyavati River in Kushinagar district from the
last week of May. The river which was once life line for the region has
turned into a dried thin channel . The river has also a
lot of religious significance as it is said that Lord Buddha was cremated at
the bank River Hiranyavati . District administration has plans for
beautification of river front at Makutabandhana-chaitya popularly
known as Ramabhar Stupa.
District Magistrate of Kushinagar, Shambhu Kumar said, “We
started the work on May 23 and we have completed basic soil work of the 3 Km of
the 50 Km River in the first phase. As per ancient religious
books , River Hiranyavati was once a full-fledged river but at present it
originates from a lake ‘Mahuatal’ in Sapha village in Ramkola block and it
flows via Rampur Bhath village in Nebura Naurangia block towards Ram gram stupa
and merges into River Ghaghi at Trimuhani ghat in Kanoura village in Fazilnagar of Kushinagar district. The
main source of water of the river is ponds, lakes , ground water and rainwater.
Over the years due to silting of channels and encroachment of water bodies the
river narrowed and the river was totally dry near Ram Bhar Stupa when we
started work at the River but as soon as we dig out around 2 ft soil natural
ground water filled the river and the villagers around became surprised to see
water in it at that place. To restore the river we are in the process of desilting
water bodies and also clearing the channels that bring water to the river.”
“Dirty water in the drains goes into the river we are searching for alternative
channel to divert the dirty water otherwise a small water treatment plant will
be installed so that the water of the river could be saved from getting
polluted.”
On the future plans of development of the bank and frontage
of river, Shambhu Kumar said, “ The front of the river at Ram Bhar
Stupa will be beautified and it will be developed into a tourist place so that
tourists and pilgrims could see the river from the platform and will
be able to take the holy water of Hiranyavati River. 3 km pathway at the
bank of the river will be constructed on which benches will installed.
Construction of park with statue of Lord Buddha and other important
informations relate to his life, is also in the plan” “We are getting this
project done with the help of MGNREGA, Nagar Panchayat and Kushinagar
development authority. ” DM Shambhu Kumar added.
While describing the history of River Hiranyavati,
President of Kushinagar Bhikshu Sangh and permanent individual Permanent
Individual Member of World Buddhist Sangha Council, Sant Bhadant
Gyaneshwar says “The last rites of Bhagwan Buddha were performed at the bank
of Hiranyavati and he also took water from the River in
his last time. For Buddhist people, four Rivers has a lot of significance
including River Anoma ( known as Ami now) in Siddharthnagar , Niranjana in Gaya,
Kukkut in Fazilnagarand and Hiranyavati in Kushinagar. Prince
Siddhartha crossed River Anoma (now known as Ami now) in Gorakhpur
district, and after exchanging his royal garments for ascetic robes and giving
up his hair, became the Buddha. Buddha broke his fast and ate ‘kheer’ prepared
by his disciple Sujata on the banks of River Niranjana river in Gaya. Close to
the end of his life, the Buddha crossed River Kukkut in Fazilnagar and had
lunch at his disciple Chand's residence, following which he felt unwell. Buddha
was cremated on the banks of River Hiranyavati in Kushinagar.
“Pilgrims carry water
of the river with them. We have been demanding the restoration
of river from a long time and I’d appreciate if Government develop
gardens at the bank of the river with statues of Lord Buddha inside.
All the rivers are gift of God and we should not make it dirty. Earlier
the HiranyavatiRiver was quite broad but it reduced in size over the years.
The stupa near the River is actually Makutabandhana-chaitya but later
people started calling it Ram Bhar Stupa.” Vice president of Kushinagar Bhikshu Sangh, Sheel Prakash said.
Shivender Singh, research scholar, ancient history
department DDU Gorakhpur University, says, “ Hiranyavati River is actually
Choti Gandak River of today which originates from Shivalik range of Himalyas in
Bagwan of Nepal. Lord Buddha was cremated at the bank of the channel of
Hiranyavati River which is now known as Hiranyavati River."
“When Lord Buddha realised that his last time has come he
asked his disciple Ananda to took him to Shalvan ( forest of sal trees) of
Mallas, at present in Kushinagar near Hiranyavati river, and told him
to move his head towards north after lying him down between two Sal trees. He
was cremated at the bank of channel of Hirnyavati River and after his
cremation a Dror Brahmin distributed the remains in 8 parts including Shakyas,
Mallas of both Pavapuri and Kushinara, King Ajatshtru of Magadha, Lichchivis of
Viashali, Bulis of Allakappa, Koliyas of Ram Gram and Brahmins of Vethapida ,
Mauryas came late so they got the ashes of the body. Shakyas made Kapilvastu
stupa at present in Piprahva in Kapilvastu, Mall of Pavapuri made
Makutabandhana-chaitya ( Ram Bhar Stupa) at the bank
of River Hiranyavati, Mall of Kushinara made Parinirvan Chaitra Stupa
at the distance of 1.5 Km from Hirnayavati River where Lord Buddha
laid between the two Sal trees in the forest , Ajatshtru made stupa in Gaya,
Lichchivis made stupa in Sarnath, Bulis made stupa in Kaushambi near Allahabad,
Koliyas at Ramgram , Brahmins of Vethapedia at Sri Lanka and Mauryaa made
Angaar stupa at Rajdhani village in Updhoulia in Chauri Chuara area. Stupa made
by Koliyas of Ram Gram is still untraceable. In 1876 AD, C L Carlleyle of
Archaeological survey of India unearthed 6.1 meter long red stone statue of
reclining Buddha which is painted in Golden colour and Parinirvan Stupa at
Kushinagar. ” PK Lahiri , scholar and co-convener of INTACH (Indian National
Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), said.
