________________
354
COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF JAINISM
vašyakabhashya was composed here in Śaka 531 ; see supra, I, p. 109. The temples of Candraprabha and Lord Mahavira existed here before the 8th century A.D. ; see Viviahatirthakalpa, p. 29 ; see also for some more details, Tirtha Darsan, II, pp. 434f.
277. Vālama :—This place in the Mahesāna district of Gujarat, is sacred to Neminātha ; for further details, see Tirtha Darsan, II, pp. 368f.
278. Vāmaja :—This place, sacred to Adīśvara, is mentioned as a tirtha in the Aloyaņa Vinati composed in V.S. 1562. It is now situated near Kalol in Gujarat ; see Tirtha Darsan, II, p. 445.
279. Varakānā :- This place in the Pāli district of Rajasthan, is associated with the worship of Pārsvanātha. It was known as Varakanakapura and it is also mentioned in the Sakala-tirtha-stotra ; see for further details, Tirtha Darsan, I, p. 218.
280. Vārāṇasi :- This great city of ancient India, is associated in the Jain tradition with the two Tirtharkaras, namely Supārsva and Pārsvanātha. Lord Pârsva, as we have already shown, was a historical figure. A Brāhmaṇa of Vārāṇasi called Vijayaghosha, according to the Uttarãdhyayana (see supra, I, p. 253) accepted the Jain religion under the influence of a Nirgrantha Brāhmana, called Jayaghosha. Jinaprabha (p. 74) mentions the Pārýva templecomplex of Vārāṇasī. The Digambara Jñānasāgara (16th century) has mentioned the two temples of Pārśva and Supārsva of this city ; see Tirthavandanasangraha, p. 66. The epigraphic evidence proves that, as early as Gupta period, the Digambaras were connected with this city ; see supra, I. pp. 105f.
281. Varānganā :-This place in South Kanara district of Karņāțaka, is now known as Vāranga. It bad several temples in the late mediaeval period. A 15th-century epigraph, found from this place, discloses the existence of the Nemirātha temple of this town ; see supra, p. 194. Sila
