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MAHĀVĪRA: HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS
of the Vrji-Licchavis in Mahavira's time,' and Vāņijagrāma was a centre of trade in the suburb of Vaiśāli 2
Rajagrha (modern Rajgir) was the capital of Magadha in Mahavira's time It was guarded by five hills, called Isıgili, Vebhāra, Pāṇdava, Vepulla, and Gijjhakūta The Mahabharata gives the names of the five hills as Vipula, Vaibhāra. Varaha, Vrsabha, and Rsi3
Nālandā, which is described in the KalpaSūtra as a suburb (bähirika) of Rajagrha, was situated on the high road from Rajagrha to Vaiśālī, at a distance of one yojana from Rajagrha It is identified with modern Bargaon, 7 miles to the north-west of Rajgir in the district of Patna *
Mithila, which was the capital of once prosperous kingdom of Videha, stood as the chief seat of government of the Videhas It is identified by tradition with modern Janakapura, a small town within the Nepal border, north of which the Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts meet
1 Law, Geography of Early Buddhism, p 12
2 Law, Some Ksatriya Tribes of Ancient India, p 38.
• Mahābhārata, Sabhāparva, Chap 21, Ślokas 1-3
Law, Geography of Early Buddhism, p 31.
5 CAGI, p 718, Law, Some Ksatrya Tnbes of Ancient India, p 134
