________________
Vol.XXXIV, 2011 Jinaprabha's account on Mathura in Vividha tirtha kalpa 73 . Beside the myth of Devi Kubera and Devanrimita stupa, the author has given many information related to Mathura stating the word Itthe/here which are as follows: 1. This city is the birth place of future Tirthankara Kanha Vasudeva27.
Here Mahaviraswami's previous birth as Visabhuti with unlimited strength is connected28. This references appears in Digambara accounts also. Here there are four Jaina temples - 1. Acarya Mangu, 2. Yaksa Bhuta, 3. Hundiya Yaksa and 4. Stupa29. The five sthalas/places around the Mathura are Akkathalam, Virashala, Kususa sthala and Mahasthala30. The twelve Vanas are Lohajungvana, Madhuvana, Bilvavana, Talavana, Khadiravana, Kamikavana, Kumudavana, Kolavana, Bakulavana,
Mahavana, Bhandiravana and Vrindavana. 6. The five Loukika Tirthas mentioned in Kalpa are Vishranti, Asikunda,
Vaikuntha Kalinjara and Cakratirtha32. There is reference of Cakra Tirtha available in Oghaniryukti by Acarya Bhadrabahuswami as "Cakke thubhe stupo Mathurayam.'
Most of the names of Sthala/places, Tirthas and Vanas we can still recognize like Vrindavan, Madhuvana, Mahavan, Vaikuntha-tirtha, etc. Their names are available in Puranas and Agamas too. He referred Acarya Bappabhattasuri's visit to Mathura where Acarya had established Mahavira's image in Vikram Samvata 826 i.e. 769 A. D. At that time Acarya had adviced King Ama to repair the stupa33. The king restored it and even prepared a Kupa or Kunda near the stupa34. A Kupa close the site (Kankalitila) of stupa is unearthed in excavation by Dr. Joshi and Margabandhu in the year appr.1987 A.D35.
. In the Kalpa the author has described the power possessed by Bappabhattasuri. He adored Rishabha at Shatrunjaya, Nemi at Giranar, Munisuvrata at Bharuch, Vira at Mondhera, Suparsva at Mathura and was taking his Gochari/food at Gowalgiri(Gwaliar). Moreover king Ama was his devotee 36. Here the Deva Sakra went to Bhutagraha for the explanation of the 'Nigoda' by Arya Raksitasuri. Suriji has described the Katha of learned Acarya Mangu too that his greed for food restulted in his rebirth as a Yaksa(Jakha). Suriji referred Jinadas Sravaka's two bullocks Kambal and Sambala who observed vratas along with him . He has also mentioned the Agama Vacana at Mathura - convened under Acarya Khandil by Jaina Samgha after the draught of 12 years in the period of Acarya Bhadrabahu last Srutakevali.
1
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org