Buddha at Niranjana, the Later Vedic River Phalgu

Abstract

Lord Buddha, as we know attained enlightenment at Gaya. His first bath in the River Niranjana known in Pāli as Lilajan is the most striking event in his process of becoming Buddha. A river mentioned in Ramayana as Phalgu and latter classical Sanskrit literature has been often stated to be the same as Niranjana. This paper explores the question of the connectivity of the later Vedic identity of these two rivers (?) being the same. It also goes through the reference of the two names - Niranjana and Phalgu in historical documents and the choice of the river – place selected by Lord Buddha for his Onward Path.