________________ Place of nirvana According to Jain belief, Lord Mahavira's nirvana place is Pavapuri near Rajagaha in Patna district, where grand temples have made it a Jain pilgrimage centre. However, historians do not seem to agree with this. The reason being that when Mahavira attained nirvana at that time there were 18 chiefs of republics of Mallas and Licchavis present there. This is only possible to have taken place in north Bihar's Pavapuri because all these republics were in Bihar. South Bihar's Pava was in their enemy land. Dr. Jacobi too, based on descriptions in Buddhist scriptures, concedes that Mahavira's nirvana place Pava was in Sakya land. Rahula Samkrityayana too, confirms this. Nathurama Premi also expresses the same opinion. According to him, Lord Mahavira's nirvana took place at the northern side of Gamga in Pava city, which is in present Gorakhapura district, in a village popular as Pupahara. **** * 367
