Lilajan River

Lilajan River
Niranjan River
Country India
States Jharkhand, Bihar
Cities Hunterganj, Bodh Gaya
Source Simaria
 - location Chatra district
Mouth Falgu River
 - location Gaya district
 - coordinates 24°43′41″N 85°00′47″E / 24.72806°N 85.01306°E / 24.72806; 85.01306Coordinates: 24°43′41″N 85°00′47″E / 24.72806°N 85.01306°E / 24.72806; 85.01306

The Lilajan River (also known by its older name: Niranjan River and also mentioned as Nilanjan River) flows through the Chatra and Gaya districts in the Indian states of Jharkhand and Bihar. Some people refer to this river as the Falgu River.[1]

Course

Miracle of the Buddha walking on the River Nairanjana. The Buddha is not visible (aniconism), only represented by a path on the water, and his empty throne bottom right.[2] Sanchi.

The Lilajan begins its journey north of Simaria in Chatra district on the Hazaribagh plateau, the western portion of which constitutes a broad watershed between the Damodar drainage on the south and the Lilajan (also called Niranjan) and Mohana rivers on the north. It flows through a deep and rocky channel until it reaches the neighbourhood of Jori. There the hills begin to recede and the stream flows sluggishly over a wide sandy bed. From this point to the Gaya border beyond Hunterganj the river is a sandy one dry in summer but disastrous during the rains. About 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of Gaya it unites with the Mohana River to form Falgu River.[3][4]

Bichkiliya waterfalls

The water falls into a dah or natural reservoir in the Lilajan River. It is 11 kilometres (7 mi) west of Chatra – about half the distance is motorable, the rest has to be on foot.[5]

Legend

As Bodh Gaya is on the shores of Lilajan (Niranjan) many legends are associated with this river concerning Buddha.[6] It is said that Buddha bathed in the nearby Niranjan (now called Lilajan) River after attaining enlightenment.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Passing through Bodh Gaya by Jan Haag". Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  2. ↑ Marshall p.65
  3. ↑ "Hazaribagh By Edward Lister". google books. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  4. ↑ "The Hazaribagh district" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  5. ↑ "Tourism". Chatra district administration. Archived from the original on 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  6. ↑ "Lord Buddha sent his begging bowl upstream in this river". Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  7. ↑ "Bodhgaya". Retrieved 2010-04-29.
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