Saptaparni Cave, Buddhist cave in Nalanda district, India

Saptaparni Cave is a cave embedded in the Vaibhara hill about 2 km southwest of Rajgir, Bihar. Its name means "seven-leaves cave", from Sanskrit sapta parni and Pali sattapaṇṇi guhā. A hot water spring inside the cave is used for bathing, and the pool is held sacred by Hindus.

After the Buddha's death, a council of a few hundred monks met in the cave and appointed Ananda, his cousin, and Upali to fix his teachings for later generations. Ananda recited the discourses from memory, opening each with "Thus have I heard on one occasion"; Upali recited the Vinaya, the rules for monks. The account appears in the Vinaya Pitaka II.284–287 and Digha Nikaya II.154.

The name Saptaparni means "seven-leaves cave", from sapta (seven) and parni (leaves). At the council held here, Ananda recited the Buddha's teachings from memory, opening each with "Thus have I heard on one occasion", while Upali recited the Vinaya, the rules for monks. This formula is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka II.284-287 and Digha Nikaya II.154.

The cave lies about 2 km southwest of Rajgir, set into the Vaibhara hill, and is reached on foot over uneven rock. A hot spring near the site is used for bathing by pilgrims, so expect wet, slippery ground around it.

The cave sits in the Vaibhara hill, and a hot-water spring rises here; bathing in it is held to be good for health, and Hindus regard the pool as sacred. The name means "seven-leaves cave", from Sanskrit sapta parni and Pali sattapaṇṇi.