Jainism in India

Author(s): Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 19

JAINISM IN INDIA
According to the commentary on the Kalpa Sutra, Asthigrama was formerly called Vardhamana. It would perhaps be more correct to say that Asthigrama was the earlier name of Vardhamana (modern Burdwan). But none need be surprised if Asthigrama was the same place as Hathigama (Hastigrama) which lay on the highroad from Vaisali to Pava.
Campa was the capital of Anga, which after many vicissitudes of fortune in its war with Magadha, was conquered in Mahavira's time by Srenika Bimbisara and permanently annexed to Magadha. Anga of the Sanskrit epics comprised modern districts of Bhagalpur and Monghyr and extended northwards upto the river Kosi. Its capital Campa was situated on the river of the same name and the Ganges at a distance of 60 yojanas. Its actual site is probably marked by two villages of Champanagar and Champapur near Bhagalpur.
Prsthacampa must have been a place not far from Campa. One of the Pali Jātakas mentions a town, known by the name of Kalacampa and situated in the kingdom of Anga.
Vaisali (modern Besarh in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar) was the chief seat of Government of the Vrji-Licchavis in Mahavira's time, and Vanijyagrama was a centre of trade in the suburb of Vaisali.
Rajagrha (modern Rajgir) was the capital of Magadha in Mahavira's tine. It was guarded by five hills, called Isigili, Vebhara, Pandava, Vepulla and Gijjhakuta. The Mahābhārata gives the names of the five hills as : Vipula, Vaibhara, Varah, Vrsabha and Rsi.
Nalanda, which is described in the Kalpa Sutra as a suburb (bāhirikā) of Rajagrha, was situated on the highroad from Rajagrha to Vaisali, at a distance of one yojana from Rajagrha. It is identified with modern Bargaon, 7 miles to the north-west of Rajgir in the district of Patna.
Mithila, which was the capital of the once prosperous kingdom
a, stood as the chief seat of Government of the Videhas. It is identified by tradition with modern Janakapura, a small town within the Nepal border, north of which the Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts meet. Videha may be identified with Tirabhukti (modern Tirhut).
Bhadrika, which is the same name as the Pali Bhaddiya, was an important place in the kingdom of Anga.