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CHAPTER XII
JAIN ANTIQUITIES IN PATNA
The Gangetic kingdoms were the venue where Jainism was born and had spread. Patna was the capital for long of the Magadha kindgom and had a great importance. There is no wonder therefore that the district of Patna should be intimately connected with Jainism. As mentioned before Mahavira Vardhamana the last Tirthankar spent 30 years as a missionary (in North and South Bihar) spreading the creed of Jainism. His tours frequently covered places in Patna district. He obtained Nirvana about the year 490 B. C. at Pawapuri a village in Bihar Subdivision of Patna district. Mahavira after he attained spiritual knowledge (Kaivalya gyan) had claimed the title of Jina.
Patna figures very prominently in Jain literature. During the time of Mahavira Vardhaman, Magadha was the centre of Jain religion and the influence of Magadha spread over Anga, Banga, Kalinga and part of Karu Kosala country. Patna was also the scene of activities of great Jain scholars like Bhadra-bahu, Sthulabhadra, Yashobhadra, Sudharman, Gautam Gandhara, Sudharma Swami and Umaswati. There are a number of ancient literature in Jain Siddhanta Bhawan of Arrah, which have extensive references to Pataliputra. Some of these ancient literature were copied out in Patna. Among the Digambar Munis the followers of Panchastupanvaya were famous and they had originated from Patna. Sri Jinasenacharya, author of the Mahapurana which has sixty thousand Slokas, was born in Patna and belonged to this line.
It is rather peculiar that there is no reference to either the
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