Site where a monkey offered honey to Buddha

In the times of Buddha, Vaishali was the capital of Vaj Republic. Vaj was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas (great republics) that existed at the time. Several clans lived in the state of Vaj of which the Licchavi and the Videha were dominant. The affairs of the state were managed by representatives of the clans. Buddha praised this political arrangement.

In the second year of enlightenment, Buddha received an invitation from the Licchavis to visit Vaishali, which at the time was in the grip of a cholera epidemic and experiencing a great famine. As Buddha stepped foot in Vaj territory, a great thunderstorm arrived bringing much needed rain. The Buddha then imparted the Ratana Sutta (Jewel Discourse) to Ananda with the directive that it should be recited within the three walls of the city, with the Licchavi princes accompanying the rounds, in order for the cholera to abate. With the Buddha himself reciting the Ratana Sutta to the assembled people and Ananda following the Buddha’s command during the three watches of the night, all of the pestilence of the citizens disappeared. In Buddhist tradition, Ratana Sutta is considered to be a paritta, which means protection Sutta. Centuries have passed and the Ratana Sutta still is used in a ritualistic function by followers of the teachings of the Buddha to ward off all sorrows, (sabba dukkha) ailments, (sabba roga), and all fears (sabba bhaya).

Vaishali is also the site of the miracle of a monkey offering honey to the Buddha. As the story goes, a monkey took the alms bowl from the Buddha and climbed a tree to gather honey. When the bowl was full of the sweet nectar, the monkey offered it to Buddha. A band of monkeys also dug a tank for Buddha, which is called Markata Hrada (monkey-tank). Excavations at Vaishali have revealed the remains of the tank. Emperor Ashoka marked the place of the event by erecting a pillar with the lion capital. 

After the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, the Licchavis obtained a share of the body relics of Buddha and built a stupa to enshrine the relics. According to Xuanzang, Emperor Ashoka later collected most of the relics from the kings and enshrined them in 84,000 stupas across the Indian Subcontinent including Vaishali. Based on Xuanzang’s descriptions, excavations were undertaken at Vaishali and a casket was discovered containing ashes, a punch-marked coin, two glass beads, a conch and a small thin piece of gold.