Jain Journal 1979 01

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

Page 12

JAIN JOURNAL
A small rivulet flows by the side of Jhanjhwa towards the southeast. It might have its origin somewhere in the northern parts of the eastern U.P. In Buddhist scriptures we find mention of a river by the name of Kulya flowing six miles south-east of Kushinagar. This is extinct now. We presume this to be the river Rijukulya which before it became dead or extinct, flowed through Jhanjhwa. It may have been a branch of the river Narayani (Gandaki) flowing there.
The most important and decisive point is the presence of a Sala tree at Jrimbhikagama. We all know that Sala trees are found in north-eastern U.P., Nepal and north Bihar only. The belt starting from the district of Gorakhpur to Tirhut division, between the Himalayas and the Ganges, has been the producing area of Sala trees. Sala trees are totally absent in the regions south of the Ganges. We do not find any mention of the presence of a Sala tree in any one of the scriptures, in the said area. Hence Jrimbhikagama can never be spotted anywhere either in south Bihar or in west Bengal.
Four factors will determine the genuineness of the location of Jrimbhika, viz, (i) the name of the place should resemble the name of Jrimbhika, (2) there must be a river or river bed whose name should resemble the name of Rijukulya, (3) the place must be in a Sala growing belt and (4) the place must be at a distance of 12 yojanas (about 54-55 miles) from Pavanagar towards Campa or south east. Jhanjhwa fulfils these conditions. Hence our location of Jirmbhika at the present-day Jhanjhwa is fully justified.
Jhanjhwa is on the metaled road running from Gopalganj to Barauli in the old district of Saran in Bihar. The road joins the national Highway connecting Lucknow with Assam. The nearest railway station (about 4 miles) is Sidhwalia on the Chapra-Siwan loop line of N. E. Rly.