Vaishali or Vesali was an ancient city, the capital of Lichhavis and the Vajjian Confederacy. During Buddha`s time Veshali was a very large city, rich and prosperous. The city was very crowded and there was abundant food supply. The city was decorated with seven thousand seven hundred and seven pleasure grounds and an equal number of lotus ponds. Vesali was most famous and prosperous due to its beautiful courtesan, Ambapali. The city was guarded by three walls, each one `gavuta` away from the other, and at three places of the walls there were gates with watch towers. Buddhaghosa described Vesali as an extensive city.

Outside the town there was Mahavana, the large natural forest which extended upto the Himalayas. There were also other forests like Gosingalasala. Vaishali was also called Visala. The former city was identified with the present village of Basrah in Vaishali district.

Vaishali got its name from King Vishal of the period of Mahabharata. The city of Vaishali was the capital of the vibrant republican Lichchabi state even before the advent of Buddhism and Jainism. Vaishali was probably the second rebublic in the world and was similar to those found in ancient Greece. Vaishali was an ancient metropolis and the capital of the republic of the Vaishali state. It was situated in the Himalayan Gangetic region of the present day Bihar state. The early history of Vaishali is not well-known. In Vishnu Purana there are records of thirty four kings of Vaishali. The first king was believed to be Nabhaga, who renounced his throne over a matter of human rights and then declared himself as the free tiller of the soil, king over his own acre. The last king among the thirty four kings was Sumati, who was considered as contemporary of Dasaratha, father of lord Rama.

There are many references of Vaisali in the Jaina and Buddhist texts and there are also mention about other Mahajanapadas (metropolis).Vaishali was established as the republic by the sixth century BC, before the birth of Gautama Buddha in five hundred and sixty three BC. Some scholars of history think that Vaishali was the first republic.

In the republic of Vaishali, Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism was born. Gautama Buddha delivered his last sermon at Vaishali and announced his Parinirvana there. Vaishali was also the land of Ambapali (or Amrapali), the famous coutesan, whose story is found in many folktales as well as in Buddhist literature. Later, Amrapali was converted to Buddha`s disciple.

Vaishali was ruled by many kings as the state was a republic dominion.One representative was elected from the kings and he was anointed with the sacred water of Abhishek Pushkarini. A small part of Buddha`s relics are found now-a days in Vaishali and have been enshrined in the foundation and in the chhatra of the stupa. Near the coronation tank Stupa one or the relic stupa is situated. Here the Lichchavis encased one of the eight portions of the Buddha`s relics, which was given to them after the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha. After his last preaching at Vaishali Buddha set out for Kushinagar, but the Lichchabis were following him. Buddha then created an illusion of a river in spate and the followers gave up and went back. This site is identified with deora in modern Kesariya village. Later King Ashoka built a stupa here. Ananda, the favoritemost disciple of Buddha attained Nirvana in the midst of Ganga outside the city of Vaishali.

Buddha`s Visits to Vaishali
Lord Buddha first visited Vaishali in the fifth year after his enlightenment and spent the whole rainy season there. The Buddhist Theravadin Commentaries give detailed descriptions of the circumstances of this visit.

Seven thousand and seven kings (rajas)used to live in Vaishali. Each of them had large entourages, palaces and pleasure parks. But after a drought there was the shortage of food and people died in large numbers. The bad smell from decaying corpse attracted the evil spirits and many inhabitants suffered from the intestinal diseases. The people complained to the ruling prince and he convoked a general assembly to discuss about the possible solution. After much discussion everbody came into unison to invite Buddha to their city. That time Buddha was at Veluvana in Rajagaha. That time the Lichchabi Mahali, who was the friend of King Bimbisaraand son of the Chaplin of Vaishali, was sent to Bimbisara to request him to persuade Buddha so that he could come to Vaishali. Bimbisara directly referred him to Buddha and Buddha agreed to go to Vaishali after listening to Mahali`s story.

Buddha started the journey with five hundred monks. King Bimbisara decorated the route from Rajagaha to Ganges, a distance of five leagues and provided all comforts on the way. The king himself accompanied Buddha and the Ganges was reached in five days. Boats were also decorated brilliantly to carry Buddha and his monks. Bimbisara followed Buddha even into the water of the Ganges upto his neck. On the opposite bank of river Ganges buddha was received by the Lichchabis with greater honor than Bimbisara had shown him. As soon as Buddha set his foot in the Vajjian territory, there was a thunderstorm and heavy rainfall. The city of Vaishali was located three leagues away from the Ganges. As Buddha appraoched Vesali, the Sakyas came to greet him and all evil spirits fled away at the sight of deva. In the evening Buddha taught Ananda the Ratna Sutta and ordered him to recite it within the city. The Lichchabi princes were asked to take the monk round the city. Ananda did it during the three watches of night and the germs of all the severe diseases vanished. Buddha himself recited the Ratna Sutta to the assembled people and eighty four thousand beings were converted. After repeating this for seven consecutive days, Buddha Vaishali. The Lichchabis accompanied him to the ganges with a great honour. On the other bank, Bimbisara was waiting for him. He took him back to Rajagaha. On his return to the Rajagaha Buddha recited Sankha Jataka.

Buddha made several visists to Vaishali. Many Vinaya rules were mentioned as having been laid down at Vaishali. Probably buddha`s last visit to Vaishali was a long one. In that oiccassion Buddha ordered the monks to turn their bowls upon Lichchabi Vaddha.

It was during his stay in Vaishali, when he returned from Kapilavasthu, his foster mother Mahapajapati Gotami followed Buddha with five hundred other Sakya women and with the help of Ananda`s intervention got the permission for the women to enter the Buddha Sangha only on the approval to obey certain conditions.

The Buddhist scripts also described Buddha`s last visit to Vaishali on his way to kusinara. On his last day of the visit, when he finished his meal, he went with Ananda to Capala Cetiya for his siesta. During their conversation, he spoke to Ananda about the beauties of Vaishali, also about the Udena cetiya, Sattambaka Cetiya, Gotamaka cetiya, Bahaputta cetiya, Sarandada cetiya as well as Kapinayha cetiya. All of these were local shrines dedicated to the local deities. But after the visit of Buddha, all of these places were converted into places of of Buddhist worship. In that conversation the other monasteries were also mentioned , which were located in or near Vaishali.

Buddha generally stayed at the Kutagarasala during his visits to Vaishali but sometimes he used to live in the different shrines too. During his last visit to the Capala cetiya he decided to die within three months and informed `Mara`. Later he told Ananda about his decision. The next day he left Vaishali for Bhandagama, after having one last look at the city. He turned his whole body round, like an elephant. Before this in the rainy season, Buddha stayed at Beluvagama, a suburb of Vaishali, while the monks stayed in and around Vaishali. On the day before he entered Vassa, where Amrapali invited him and other monks for a meal and at the completion of the meal, She gave her Ambavana (mango grove) for the use of the Buddhist order.

Buddha preached many important suttas at Vesali like Mahali, Cxula Saccaka, Mahasihanada, Maha Saccaka, Tevijja, Sunakkhatta, Vacchagotta and Ratana.

After the passing away of Buddha, a portion of his relics was enshrined in the city. After one hundred years, vesali again became place of interest for Buddhists, on account of the `Ten Points` raised by the Vajjiputtaka and the second Buddhist council held in connection with the dispute at Valikarama.

Jain Religion At Vaishali
Vaishali was also an important city for the Jainas as it was the workplace of last Jain Tirthankar Mahavira, also known as Niganthas. It is believed that of the forty two rainy season in his ascetic life, he spent the twelve rainy season at Vaishali. Vaishali was also the residence of Kandaramasuka and Patikaputta. Among eminent followers of the Buddha, who lived in Vaishali the most significant names were Ugga, Siha, Vasettha, Pingiyani, Karanapali and other Lichchabis.