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The Jain Tradition of the Origin
of Pataliputra PURAN CHAND NAHAR
Like many other ancient cities of India, Pataliputra has also a tradition of its own, about its origin. It is beyond any shadow of doubt that at one period, this city was in its most flourishing condition like Paris or New York of today with all its splendours. Much has been written by various scholars of the East and West about several traditions, Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain, associated with this great city. Here I am giving only the Jain version of the origin in a few words and hope the same will not be out of place at this present happy moment, when the All-India Conference of Oriental Scholars from different parts of the country meet here in this ancient site of Pataliputra, the Palibothra of the Greeks.
Origin of the City of Pataliputra
King Srenika was reigning at Rajagrha. He was also known as Bimbisara and was succeeded by his son Kunika or Asokachandra better known as Ajatasatru. He removed his capital from Rajagrha to Campa and was followed by his son Udayi. After the death of Kunika, Udayi was ruling in Campa; he did not like the city owing to several deaths in his family and was therefore advised by his ministers to found another city ; his own father had given up Rajagrha and had founded Campa for the same reason.
Udayi then sent round some Naimittikas (omen-readers) to discover an ideal place where he could lay the foundation of a new city. They selected a place on the shores of the Ganges, where a Patala tree stood majestically with a number of protruding branches. Worms flying themselves into the mouth of a Cas bird on the tree indicated the place as the most auspicious. In due course the Naimittikas informed the king of their selection of the place, when an aged Naimittika recited the following story about the Patala tree :
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