Jainism in India

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

Page 20

JAINISM IN INDIA
Alabhika, which is the same name as the Pali Alavi, is identified by Cunningham and Hoernle with Newal or Nawal in Unao district in U.P., and by Nandalal Dey with Airviwa, 27 miles north-east of Etawah.
Panitabhumi, which is the same name as the Ardhamagadhi Paniyabhumi, was a place in Vajrabhumi, a division of the pathless country of Radha.
Sravasti, which is correctly identified with Sahet-Mahet on the south bank of the river Rapti, was the flourishing capital of the kingdom of Kosala in Mahavira's time. It was situated on the highroad from Vaisali, Pava, and Kapilavastu to Kausambi, Ujjayini and Pratisthana.
Papa, which is the same name as the Pali Pava, was one of the chief seats of Government of the Mallas. It was in Mahavira's time one of the halting stations on the high road from Vaisali to Kusinara and Kapilavastu."
It will be seen that excepting Asthigrama, Alabhika, Sravasti and Papa, all other places are within Bihar.
Parsvanatha Hill-Parsvanatha hill in Hazaribagh district is admittedly the most sacred spot for the Jainas. The temple of Parsvanatha at the summit could be seen from the distance of many miles. There are two routes to Parsvanatha. There is one route from Nimiaghat (also known as Isri Bazar) to the top, one mile of which is motorable and the rest is a climb of five miles. The other route is from Madhuvana which runs to about six miles. The easier way is from Madhuvana where there are Jaina temples.
According to the archaeologists, the existing temple edifices do not date beyond 1765 A.D. This is not surprising and does not conflict with the hoary antiquity of the place. The Jaina temples are pulled down and rebuilt by the Jainas quite unlike the attitude of the Hindus. So it is certain that the present edifices are comparatively recent and were substituted for edifices which must have existed before.
Kuluha Hill-Kuluha hill is in Chatra subdivision of Hazaribagh district. It is now approachable by a good motorable road which branches off from near Dhobi on the Grand Trunk Road, or by a direct road from Chatra. It is the birthplace of Jaina Tirthankara Sitalanatha. But the importance of the place for the Jainas was almost lost. Mr. Nandalal De, who visited the hill in June 1899 took the ancient remains in the hill to be exclusively Buddhistic. Dr. Stein rightly established that the antiquities on the Kuluha hill were Jaina in origin. He