Jain Journal 1986 10

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

Page 23

OCTOBER, 1986
53
Campa, the capital of Anga (modern Bhagalpur, a part of Videha in ancient times) was yet another important centre of Jaina activities where Mahavira spent three rainy seasons and where Vasupujya the 12th Tirthankara was born and died. There are signs of old and new Jaina temples of both the Digambara and the Svetambara sects built for Vasupujya and other Tirthankaras. 17 We are told in Uvāsagadasão an Antagadadasāo that there was a temple called Punnabhadda at Campa in the time of Sudharman, one of the eleven disciples of Mahavira, who succeeded him as the head of the Jaina sect after his death.18 It is said that the town was visited by Sudharman, at the time of Kunika Ajatasatru who went there barefooted to see the Ganadhara outside the city which was again visited by Sudharman's successors. 19 It may thus be rightly said that it was through the ruling dynasty of Vaisali or the Licchavis that Mahavira got solid support from all directions in his early days, and 'it was through them that the religion of Mahavira had spread over Sauvira, Anga, Vatsa, Avanti, Videha and Magadha, all of which were the most powerful kingdoms of the time.20 The Buddhist works therefore do not mention Cetaka, though they have a lot to tell us about different aspects of Vaisali in general. Jacobi, therefore, rightly suggests that 'the Buddhists took no notice of him as his influence.....was used in the interest of their rivals. But the Jainas cherished the memory of the maternal uncle and patron of their prophet, to whose influence we must attribute the fact that Vaisali used to be a stronghold of Jainism, while being looked upon by the Buidhists as a seminary of heresies and dissent.21
The Jaina sources also tell us that like the Videhas and the Licchavis, the Mallas were also devotedly attached to Mahavira. The Kalpasūtra says that the nine Mallakis or Malla Chiefs, like the Licchavis also observed fast and instituted an illumination to mark the passing away of the great Jina. From the Antagadadasão we further learn that the Mallas, along with the Ugras, Bhogas, the Ksatriyas and the Licchavis went to receive Aritthanemi or Aristanemi, the 22nd Tirthankara, when the latter had been to the city of Baravai.22 And this was also the case with the Ganarajas of Kasi and Kosala.23 Bimbisara, Nandas, Candragupta Maurya, Samprati, Kharavela and other powerful rulers are also represented to have been associated with the Jaina Church of
17 Dey, The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India, pp. 44-45. 18 Hoernle, ii, p. 2. 19 C. J. Shah, op. cit., pp. 94-95. 20 Ibid., p. 99 ;Dey, Notes on Ancient Anga, p. 322; Buhler, Indian Sects of Jainism, p.27. 31 SBE, Intro. XIII; CJ. Shah, op. cit., pp. 99-108. 12 Barnet, The Antagadadasao and Anuitaravavaiyadasao, p. 36. 23 For details, see C. J. Shah, op. cit., pp. 108-111.