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.