Jainism in India

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

Page 27

12
JAINISM IN INDIA
the north of the ancient fort. This area if explored may lead to possible discoveries of many other Jaina relics.
Jaina antiquities in Patna-Pataliputra or Patna figures very prominently in Jaina literature. During the time of Mahavira Vardhamana Magadha was the centre of Jaina religion. At later period, Pataliputra was also the scene of activities of great Jaina scholars like Bhadrabahu and Sthulabhadra. It is here that the great Jaina Council assembled for the first time to collect their canonical texts.
In Patna there are two very sacred Jaina shrines which are places of pilgrimage. One is dedicated to the illustrious Sthulabhadra. According to local tradition, he died at this spot. The other is Agam Kuan. Yuan Chwang, it is believed, identified this well with Asoka's hell which is said to have contained cauldrons of boiling water. Colonel Waddell is responsible for a story that a Jaina priest Sudarsana, was flung into the furnace by the order of the king of Pataliputra, but the Jaina priest remained unscalded. The king on being convinced of the Jaina muni's spiritual power released him. The nirvana temple of Sudarsana is by the side of Agam Kuan.
Pawapuri which appears to be a corruption of Apapapuri, the town without any sins, is a great place of pilgrimage for the Jainas throughout India. This is said to have been the place where Mahavira died. In the midst of the lake stands the holy temple of Jalamandir. To the north of the lake there is an old temple called Thalamandir, which is built on the spot, where Mahavira died, the Jalamandir being the place of his cremation. The lake did not then exist but such countless crowds of people came to attend the cremation ceremony that the mere act of each taking up a pinch of dust as relic is believed to have created a great hollow which now forms the lake.
Rajgir in Patna district is another great sacred place for the Jainas. Mahavira had visited Rajagrha several times and had preached his creed there. It may be recalled that one of the Tirthankaras, Muni Suvrata was born at Rajagrha. The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang who visited India in the 7th century A.D. noticed Nirgranthas on the Vaibhara hill.
There are Jaina temples on the tops of the five hills. The temples are all of recent date and generally contain a stone with the footprints of some Jaina Tirthankara. Older shrines of the middle ages with numerous Jaina images are also found. There is a very ancient image For Private & Personal Use Only