Jainism in Bihar

Author(s): P C Roy Choudhary
Publisher: P C Roy Choudhary Patna

Page 21

"Mahavira : His Life and Teachings" in the following
words
"Anga-Magadha, the territories of the VrjiLicchavis, and Mallas, and the kingdom of KasiKosala are mentioned as the places which became the scene of wanderings of Mahavira and activities of his Nirgrantba followers in the Buddha's lifetime. The Buddhist texts specifically mention Rajgrha (Rajgrha), Nalanda, Vesali (Vaisali), Pava, and Savatthi (Sravasti), as places where the activities of Mahavira and his immediate followers were concentrated. These texts clearly mention Vesali as the place where the religion of Mahavira found its staunch supporters among the Licchavis." At another place while discussing the places where Mahavira spent the rainy seasons since he had renounced the life of a house-holder, Dr. Law refers to the list in the Kalpa-Sutra and mentions as below
"Taken in order, the places stand in the list as follows:
1. Asthigrama-first rainy season. 2. Campa and Prsticampa-next
three rainy
seasons.
Vaisali and Vanijagrama-next twelve rainy
3.
seasons.
4. Rajgrha and Nalanda-next fourteen rainy
seasons.
5. Mithila-next six rainy seasons.
6. Bhadrika-next two rainy seasons.
7. Alabhika-next one rainy season.
8.
Panitabhumi-next one rainy season. Sravasti-next one rainy season. 10. Papa-last rainy season.
9.
According to the commentary on the Kalpa-Sutra, Asthigrama was formerly called Vardhamana. It would perhaps