Jain Journal 2006 07

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

Page 32

Chitta Ranjan Pal: Mahamuni Jambūsvāmī and Bengal
Acarya Kshitimohan Sen of Viśvabhāratī stated that Devacandra Acarya had written a book in Kanerese language in 1704 A.D. The name of the book is Rājāvalikathā. In this book, a chapter has been devoted to the biography of Bhadrabahu. In this Bhadrabahucarita, Devacandra has informed us that Govardhanācārya, the fourth Śrutakevalin, accompanied by other Srutakevalins and five hundred monks, were returning from Kottapura after worshipping the mausoleum or monument of Jambūsvāmī when they found Bhadrabahu playing with other playmates on the outskirt of Koṭṭapura.26
It is evident from the account of Devacandra that Jambūsvāmī attained nirvāņa at Kottapura in Pundravardhana and the place of Nirvana became a pilgrimage centre which attracted pilgrims from far and near.
As the Kanerese language is all Greek to this writer, he sought help from Dr. Hampa Nagarajaih, a renouned Jaina scholar and Professor Emeritus of Bangalore. In a letter, Dr. Nagrajaih has conveyed the following information to this writer.
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"Devacandra was not an Acarya, he was a house-holder upāsaka. The name of the book is Rājavali Kathāsāra - a prose work of 500 pages."
Devacandra does not mention the place of nirvana of Jambūsvāmī. He states that Bhadrabahu was born at Kotipura. Once after nirvana-vandan to Jambūsvāmī, Govardhanācārya saw Bhadrabahu playing on the outskirts of Kotipura. With this one may surmise that Jambūsvāmī attained liberation at Kotipura”.
The discussions made above lend us to believe that Koțitīrtha /Kottapur is an older pilgrimage centre, probably had its origin in the pre-Christian centuries while Chaurasia as a pilgrimage centre for the Jainas came into existence during the mid-sixteenth century. And as such there is no difficulty in assuming that Jambusvāmī's association with Kottapur or Koțitirtha made it a holy pilgrimage centre for the Jainas since the time of the fourth Śrutakevalin or even earlier.
26.
Acarya Kṣiti Mohan Sen Chinmayvanga p. 8-64