Jaina Gazette 1928

SR No.: 034890
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ajitprasad, C S Mallinath
Publisher: Jaina Gazettee Office
Publication Year: 1928
Total Pages: 502
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 33 MB

Page 133

VAJJABHUMI.
VAJJ
AJJABHUMI, the other division of Ladha mentioned in the Acaranga-sutra, is evidently a corruption.
Vajjabhumi or Vijaya-bhumi, which means the country of conquest," that is where Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of the Jainas, made a conquest of his passions" and became a "Jina " or conqueror and where he was called "Mahavira" or the Great
Hero. His great Renunciation took place at a "Vijaya Muhurtta" and he attained the Kevaliship at a "Vijaya Mahurtta" The Acaranga-sutra, which mentions the names of Vajjabhumi and Subbhabhumi as two divisions of Ladha, was composed in the 4th century B.C., that is, about two hundred years after Mahavira's death, when it is very probable, the word Vijayabhumi had been corrupted into Vajja-bhumi. Its commentaries which were written not earlier than 876 A.C., that is, 1500 years after Mahavira's death, restored Vajja-bhumi into Vajra-bhumi. But it should be stated here that in Magadhi-Prakrta, in which language the Acaranga-Sutra is written, Vajra assumes the form. Vayara, and in Pali Vajira. In the enumeration of countries in the Matsya Purana, which is one of the oldest of the Puranas, we find the name of a country called "Pra-Vijaya on the north of Suhma (Suhmottarah Pravijayah). Some of the Puranas have Brahmottarah" instead of "Suhmottarah but Brahmottarah" is an obvious mistake for "Suhmot tarah." The prefix Pra of Pra-Vijaya has evidently been used either for the sake of the metre or for emphasising the word Vijaya. There can be no doubt that this Vijayabhumi comprised the modern districts of Manbhum and Singbhum in the Chota Nagpur Division of the Province of Behar and Orissa. Manbhum is evidently a corrup. tion of Manya-bhumi which means the " venerable country and evidently derived its name from Mahavira, who was called the "Venerable Ascetic Mahavira " on the attainment of Kevaliship in this district, as we shall show. The Paresnath Hill, the eastern metropolis of Jaina worship, Abu in Rajputana being the Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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