Jain Journal 1978 04

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

Page 30

130
JAIN JOURNAL
in Jainism seems to have been a predominant feature. The Avašyaka Cūrni30 while refering to the above stūpa at Vaisali, gives the story of the 'Thubha' in illustration of Parināmiki Buddhi. The Avašyaka Niryukti31 merely gives the catch-word, 'Thubha' "which shows that the author of the Niryukti knew of the stūpa of Muni-Suyrata at Vaisali.”32 According to some scholars, it would be a mistake to suppose that Cetiya in the Buddhist passages of the Mahāpariņibbāna Sutta33 and the Digha-Nikāya34 referred to funeral mounds of stūpas only of Udena, Sattambaka and others. 35 The Bahuputtika-cetiyam in the Mahaparinibbāna Sutta may be said to be identical with the Caitya of the same name at Visala (Vaisali) and Mithila referred to in the Jaina Bhagavati and Vipāka Sutras. This Bahuputtika or Bahuputrika Caitya was dedicated to a goddess of a name who was a prototype of the later Buddhist Hariti. "Some of these Buddhist Cetiyas, were, therefore similar to the Purnabhadra Caitya described in the Aupapātika Sutra, 36 called yaksāyatana after the well-known ancient Yaksas, Purnabhadra and Manibhadra by Jaina commentators. The description of this Purnabhadra Caitya, as given in the Aupapātika Sutra37 supports more or less the interpretation advanced by Hoernle stated above. It is said that this Caitya was, in the Udyāna or park, called Amrasalavana, situated to the north-east of the city of Campa. It was very old in age, recognised by people as ancient, famous, praised everywhere, and jñāta. 38
At Vaisali, recently an image of Mahavira (in black basalt stone) of the Pala period was discovered, which is now kept in a modern temple situated to the west of Vaisaligarh near a tank. This image is now respectfully worshipped in the name of Jainendra by the Jainas who flock there from all over the country.39 We have reference to another Jaina image discovered in Vaisali in excavation.40 Moreover, innumerable clay-sealings and self-impressions of more than 120 varieties, mostly of unbaked clay were found by Dr. Sloch, Spooner and others in course of excavations at the site. Jainism undoubtedly had a very great influence
30 See U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism and Buddhism in Mithila, p. 98ff. 31 Vy. 949-51; Haribhadra's Vrtti, 437; Avasyaka-Curni, p. 567. 3* U. P. Shah, op. cit., p. 62. 38 Chap. III Sections 36-37. 84 II. 113; also see Law, Geography of Early Buddhism. 36 U. P. Shah, op. cit., pp. 55ff. 36 Ibid., 55. 87 Sutras, 2-5. 38 U. P. Shah, op. cit., p. 55; for details see, U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism
and Buddhism in Mithila, p. 103. 39 See U. Thakur, Ibid. 40 P. C. Raychoudhary, Jainism in Bihar, 99,