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THE JAINA GAZETTE
geography of India. His book of that name is well known, and contains identifications of a large number of ancient cities in Northern India. Some of his theories were criticised in 1897 and 1898 by the late Dr. Vincent A. Smith, the author of "The Early History of India and other valuable books on ancient art and numismatics. The Archaeological Department has, since then, carried out systematic explorations at some of the sites concerned. and brought to light ancient buildings and epigraphical records which have finally proved the correctness of General Cunningham's conclusions. The site of Kausambi was, however, still a matter of controversy. The author of this note has recently discovered a valuable inscription which makes it quite certain that the extensive remains near the village of Kosam in the district of Allahabad mark the actual site of the famous city of Kausambi.
Kausambi was one of the most important cities of Ancient India. It is mentioned in the Satapatha Brahmana, in the Ramayana and in the "Meghaduta of Kalidasa. It was the birth place ol Vararuchi; and the scene of the Sanscrit play Ratnavali, where it is designated as Vatsapattana. Gautama Buddha spent his ninth retreat (Pali Vasa) at Kausambi, and it was here that the first image of the Great Teacher was carved in sandalwood in his own life time. According to Hiuen Tsiang this image was still in existence in the 7th century A.D.
General Cunningham was the first Archaeologist to locate it in the extensive ruins lying near the village of Kosam on the Jumna River, 30 miles or so above the city of Allahabad. Dr. Vincent A. Smith believed this identification to be incorrect and himself fixed the site of Kausambi at or near the Sutna Railway Station. He admitted the force of some of the arguments adduced by General Cunningham, but rejected his main theory on the ground that the geographical position of Kosam did not correspond with the indication left by the Chinese pilgrims. He dismissed the statement of Fa Hian as worthless, because, in his opinion, that pilgrim had never personally visited Kausambi.
It is unnecessary herc to go into a detailed examination of the particulars in regard to the situation of Kausambi as recorded by Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
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