Jain Journal 1986 10

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

Page 21

Mithila The Heart of Jainism
MD. AQUIQUE
Mithila, variously known as Videha and Tirabhukti, consisted of the erstwhile districts of Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Champaran, Saharsa, 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 civilisation is considerably more remarkable than that of other parts of the country. Mithila played a very significant role in the history of Jainism for centuries, because Mahavira, the 24th 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 Videha2 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 3 districts of Vaisali3 and belonged to Jnatrka clan. He, therefore, came to be known as Vesalie or Vaisalika meaning a native of Vaisali. His father, Siddhartha, was the chief of Naya clan (Jnatrka 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 Videhasukumala.R
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 Mithila (from his mother's side). According to the Jainas Mithila or Videha was included in the Jaina Aryan countries. These countries were known as Aryan for it is said that the Titthayaras, the Cakkavattis, the
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. 8 For details of Vaisali, see Ibid., chap III.
Hoernle, Uvasagadasao (Bibliotheca Indica series), pp. 3-6.
5 Sutra Krtanga, I. 3.
• Acaranga Sutra, 389.
7
For details of Mahavira's birth-place, see Jacobi, Jaina Sutras, pt. II (SBE, XXII, Intro x-xiii); Stevension, The Heart of Jainism pp. 21-22, 28; also see U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism and Buddhism in Mithila, pp. 81 ff.