Rājagṛha is the place where
Munisuvrata, the 20th
tirthankara, experienced 4 (conception, birth, initiation into monkhood, and attainment of omniscience) of his
Panch Kalyanakas (4 except attainment of
nirvana, which happened at
Sammet Shikharji). Additionally, the
Śvētāmbara Siddhāntha notes that
Vasupujya, the 12th tirthankara, broke his fast at Rājagṛha. As per the
Kalpa Sūtra, a 3rd century BCE scripture of the
Śvētāmbara Siddhāntha,
Mahavira Swami, the 24th tirthankara, spent 10
chaturmasyas (4 months-long rainy season retreats) at Rājagṛha. It is also the place where the 11
ganadharas (chief disciples) of Mahavira attained
nirvana. Rājagṛha was the capital city of
Magadha, which was then ruled by
King Śreṇika, a devout disciple of Mahavira. The significance of each of the 5 hills of Rājagṛha is described at length in
Aupapātika Sūtra, a 5th century BCE
Śvetāmbara Jaina scripture.
Naulakhā Jaina Temple A Śvētāmbara Jaina temple located at the foothills of Rājagṛha, this temple is also known as
"Gāon Mandira" (village temple). It spans 8,007 sq. ft. of area and its spire reaches a maximum height of 87 ft., including the flagstaff. The spire features 85 decorative
kalaśas. The principal deity of this temple is a black-coloured stone idol of
Munisuvrata. The idol was installed in 1447 CE by Jinadāsa, a lay follower, and features sculptures of demi-gods performing ritualistic bathing of the idol, and of attendant demi-gods. It also features lions carved at the base of the idol. The temple was renovated thrice - first time in 1763 CE by Manekchandbhai of
Hooghly, the second time in 1961 CE by Devasibhai of
Jharia, and the third time in 2008. A new 9.1 ft. tall idol of Munisuvrata was installed by Ācārya Kailāśasāgarasūri in 1961 CE. Apart from these idols, it also features ancient idols of
Rishabhanatha (dated to 1447 CE and brought from Suvarṇagiri, the 4th hill), and
Shantinatha (dated to 1447 CE and brought from Ratnagiri, the 2nd hill). The idol of Rishabhanatha features long locks of hair in accordance with the beliefs of
Śvetāmbara Jainas as described in
Ācārya Hemacandrasūri's Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra. An undated (possibly 15th century CE) idol of
Pārśvanātha (brought from Udayagiri, the 3rd hill) is also present here. In 2008, an idol of Mahavira was consecrated by Ācārya Muktiprabhasūri in the underground cellar of the temple.
Vipulācalgiri (1st Hill) As per
Aupapātika Sūtra, Mahavira delivered sermons at the
Guṇaśīla Caitya, located on this hill. An inscription at the Naulakhā temple notes that Vaccarāja and Devarāja, two lay devotees, built a temple on this hill in the 14th century CE. The same temple was renovated by Saṅghapati Saṅgrām Chopra in the 17th century CE and by Rāi Bahādur Dhanpatsingh Dugar in the 18th century CE.
Ratnagiri (2nd Hill) Kavi Jayakīrti, a 16th century CE Jaina traveller, notes the presence of a
Śvetāmbara temple dedicated to
Rishabhanatha, on this hill. At the beginning of the 17th century CE, Panyās Jayavijaya records the existence of 2 Śvetāmbara temples on this hill and by the end of the 17th century CE, Panyās Saubhāgyavijaya notes the presence of 3 Śvetāmbara temples on this hill. Currently, a
caturmukha (four-faced) Śvetāmbara temple with
Chandraprabha as the principal deity, exists on this hill. This temple was renovated once in 1763 CE and for the second time in 2008.
Vaibhāragiri (5th Hill) The site where
Munisuvrata attained omniscience and the sacred ground where Mahavira's 11
ganadharas (chief disciples) attained
nirvana. Historical records from the 16th-17th centuries CE mention between 24-52 temples here (24 as per Hansasomavijaya in 16th century CE, 25 as per Jayavijaya in the early 17th century CE, and 52 as per Saubhāgyavijaya at the end of the 17th century CE). The hill currently houses 6
Śvetāmbara temples and features archaeological remains of ancient
Gupta-era temples with rare sculptures including the first ever idol with a
lānchana (Tirthankar
Neminatha, from early 5th century CE). Notable temples here include Puruṣadāniya Pārśva temple (with footprints dating back to 1844 CE and 1855 CE), Mahavira temple, renovated in 1607 CE with
Mughal-era artistic elements housing footprints dating back to 1874 CE, Munisuvrata's temple (known as Baḍā Mandira) dating back to 1865 CE, with a nine-tier spire, Dhaññā-Śālibhadra's temple (installed in 1468 CE, rebuilt in 1954 CE and 2008), the site where Mahavira's ganadharas attained moksha through the practice of
sallekhana and the place marking the attainment of nirvana by the 11 ganadharas, including
Gautama Swami (current footprints installed in 1774 CE by Jagat Seth Mehtab Rai).
Sona Bhaṇḍāra Cave It is a 34 ft. long and 17 ft. wide cave on the foothills of Rājagṛha. Folk legends suggest it contains
King Śreṇika's hidden treasure behind a sealed wall. An inscription indicates it was built for Jaina ascetics by Ācārya Vairadevasūri in the 4th century CE. The cave walls feature carved images of tirthankaras
Padmaprabha,
Pārśvanātha,
Mahavira, and others. The outer walls display the Jaina
Dharmachakra (wheel of dharma) and a few 3rd-4th century CE inscriptions in mixed
Sanskrit and
Pali. ==Geography and climate==