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CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BIHAR

FIELDWORK REPORT ON “VENUVANA RAJGIR”

Name of the student: Suraj Kumar
Course: M.A in Social Work
Department: Sociological Studies
Enrollment No.: CUSB2001322021
Supervisor: Dr. Jitendra Ram Sir
Fieldwork Area: Venuvana, Rajgir
Day & Date: Friday, 11 March 2022

INTRODUCTION:-
On 11 March, 2022, morning we the students
of M.A. Social Work, Department of Sociological Studies of Central
University of South Bihar, along with faculty members went to
“VENUVANA” for the purpose of the fieldwork. For this purpose, i
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used observatory and exploratory approach to understand the

importance of this cultural heritage, religious pilgrimage place
‘Venuvana’.

PURPOSE:-

This is my second field-visit to a another Cultural

site named as ‘Venuvana’ which is located in Rajgir, Nalanda district
of Bihar and 76 km from Central University of South Bihar. and
purpose of this field visit is to know about historical importance of
this site and their relevance to contemporary times in terms of
tourist place by Observatory & Exploratory methods.

SUMMARY OF THE DATA WHICH I COLLECTED:-

At a distance of 3 km from Rajgir Railway Station,

Venuvana is a historical park located a little away from the center of
Rajgir, Bihar. Situated near Rajgir Hot Springs, it is a one of the
popular historical as well as pilgrimage places in Rajgir, Nalanda
district of Bihar. Venuvana literally a ‘Bamboo Forest’ is a historical
park associated with Lord Buddha. This is the site of monestry
Venuvana Viar built by the powerful Magadh Emperor Bimbisara. the

park was gifted by the Magadha King Bimbisara to Lord Buddha

about 2500 years ago. There is a small pond known as ‘Karandak

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Tank’ inside the park. The forest was a favourite of Lord Buddha, who
used to take a bath in the ‘Karandak Tank’ before going to teach his
disciples on ‘Griddhakuta’ hill. It is said that Bimbisara once spent a
night with Lord Buddha here as he got late after taking a bath in the
warm spring nearby and the city gates had closed. An exemplary
Security System indeed ! The king spent the night in the company of
Buddha at this ‘Bamboo Garden’ and that is how the place is
significant to the devotees. There is large artificial lake and a Buddha
Sculpture built by Japajnese devotes next to the lake where one can
bask in the peaceful atmosphere. It is said that Lord Buddha used to
go here for meditation after taking bath.

Excavation in the forest have uncovered the foundations of a room

and the bases of nine brick stupas as well as tablets from the 10 th to
11th century.

Venuvana is surrounded by natural beauty where, there is a feeling

of peace beyond the hustle and bustle of the city. There are various
species of bamboos, which were spreading their beauty in different
ways, there are many statues of Lord Buddha, some of them were
seen with his disciples in meditation. most of the statues of Lord
Buddha were made of fine wooden artifacts. Some small inscription
were also seen on the stone, one of which was the named as a
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‘Vipakkh Sevak Bhikkhu Venuvane’, on which a line was written on it,

which is like this –

“अपने लाभ की अवहे लना नहीं करनी चाहिए,

दस
ू रों के लाभ की स्पह
ृ ा नहीं करनी चाहिए.

दस
ू रों के लाभ की स्पह
ृ ा करने वाला भिक्खु (साधक)

चित्त की एकाग्रता को नहीं प्राप्त कर पाता”

Apart from this, a wooden bridge was built using modern

technology, which went to the other side of the road where, there
was lot of resources for the children to play and learned lot of things
from stone’s inscripstions and positive vibes of that particular
environment. And colourful flowers were adding to the importance
of that forest i.e. Venuvana with their outstanding beauty and
colourful widestrips of the road were compelled to walk on it. All
these stuffs and its religious values/importance play very crucial role
in attracting tourists to exploring the things regarding historical
importance, and their connection with the contemporary times in
terms of Buddha religion.

EVALUATION:-

I learned lot of things regarding this cultural and

religious sites in terms of relationship between kingship and Guru
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and how king gave importance towards spiritual guru & education by
which they empower themselves and increased their productivity
and live a dignified life take a decision which is morally right and
humanitarian philosophy. And, how the atmosphere of that place
brings positive changes because positive vibes or spiritual energy
leads people towards to attaining way of truth & peace and live with
harmony in society. Now its becomes tourists place which is
attracting more and more people & earn nominal charge which is
helped in socio-economic cultural development of the nation as well
as society at large, and also spreading religious and cultural values of
our proudable history around the world. Rajgir is India’s 9 th largest
tourist places where people go there.

FUTURE PLAN:-

In future, I would like to visit one more time in

Venuvana to explore more and more to enhance our knowledge
regarding cultural, religious & spiritual aspects of society.