Jain Journal 1976 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 22

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JAIN JOURNAL
Ujjain, Pratisthanapura and Broach is referred to in Jaina accounts. Though no Jaina antiquities for a period ranging from c.300 B. C. to c.300 A. D. have as yet been discovered from Madhya Pradesh, chances of future discoveries cannot be ruled out.
The Kalpa-sūtra-sthavirāvali says that Sthavira Kamiddhi was one of the twelve pupils of Arya Suhasti (who was the guru of Samprati, Asoka's grandson). From the disciples of Kamiddhi arose a šākha of Jaina monks which was known as Antaranjiya-sūkhā. This Antaranjiya is identified with the site of Ataranji-Kheda in Etah district. The above sākhā should date from at least the first century B. C. Similarly from Arya Samita, the disciple of Arya Sihagiri in the first century B. Carose the Brahmadvipika-sākhā. Brahmadvipa is supposed to be the region between Krsna and Bena rivers in the Vidarbha country. Also in the Kalpa-sūtra-sthavirāvali we find mention of Majjihma-sākha of Jaina monks. This group derived its name from Madhyamikà or Nagari near Chitod. Thus all these references showing penetration of Jainism to the West and South suggest that the Jaina monks must have been passing through parts of Central India from U.P. and Bihar and that there might have existed some Jaina centres in Central India during this period.