Venue of the second Buddhist council was held in Sahari.
Sohari: In page 164 third para Huen Tsang says, “Going west from this 20 li or so, is a stupa built by Ashoka Raja. This is the spot where the “great assembly” (maha sangha) formed their collection of books (or, held their assembly). Those who had not been permitted to join Kasyapa’s assembly, whether learners or those above learning (Arhats), to the number of 100,000 men, came together at this spot and said, “Whilst Tathagat was alive we all had a common master, but now the king of the law is dead, it is different. We too wish to show our gratitude to the Buddha, and we also will hold an assembly for collecting the scriptures.” The word Sohari means to collect something which is scattered all over. In this case it means to gather scriptures which were scattered all over. Soharna is a common rural Bihari word to collect or gather scattered items. The distance of Sohari village is approximately 5.5 kilometers west from Atri. That is exactly 20 li west just as Huen Tsang said. So Sohari is certainly the Ashokan stupa marking the spot where the huge convocation took place.
Buddha, Buddhism, spirituality. Second Buddhist convocation. Sohari.