Jain Journal 1978 04

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

Page 26

Mithila- The Heart of Jainism
MD. AQUIQUE
Mithila, variously known as Videha and Tirabhukti consisted of the erstwhile districts of Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Saharasa, Purnea, north Monghyr, and north Bhagalpur, as well as the Terai under Nepal lying between the district and lower ranges of the Himalaya. She occupied a very influential and unique position in the body-politic of Aryavarta and her contribution to Indian civilization is considerably more remarkable than that of other parts of the country. Mithila played a very significant part in the history of Jainism for centuries, because Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the Jainas, and commonly spoken of as "the founder of Jaina Church”, was a scion of the noble family of Vaisali where he was born and had spent the early part of his life.1
Vaisali, the ancient seat of the Licchavis and the erstwhile capital of the republican Videha? is important not only on its antiquity but also on its association with Jainism. Vardhamana Mahavira, one of the great leaders of Jainism, was born at Kundagrama, one of the three districts of Vaisali: and belonged to the Jnatrika clan." He, therefore, came to be known as Vesalie or Vaisalika meaning a native of Vaisali, or the firs citizen of Vaisali. His father, Siddhartha, was the chief of Naya clant (Jnatrika clan) whose wife Trisala was sister of Cetaka, king of Vaisali. She is called Vaidehi or Videhadatta, because she belonged to the ruling family of Videha and hence Mahavira is also known by various maternal names such as Videha, Videhadatta, Videhajatya, and Videhasukumara.
It is thus evident from the above accounts that Mahavira was an inhabitant of Vaisali (from his father's side) and a citizen of Videha or
1 U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism and Buddhism in Mithila, pp. 80ff. 2 For historical account of ancient Mithila, see U. Thakur, History of Mithila,
p. 2ff. * For details of Vaisali, see Ibid., Chap. III. 4 Hoernle, Upasagadasao (Bibliotheca Indica series), pp. 3-6. * Sutra Krtanga, 1. 3. & Acaranga Sutra, 389.