Mahavira His Life and Teachings

Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Luzac and Co UK

Page 40

LIFE
33
māna. It would perhaps be more correct to say that Asthigrāma was the earlier name of Vardhamāna (modern Burdwan). But none need be surprised if Asthigrāma was the same place as Hatthigāma (Hastigrāma) which lay on the high road from Vaiśālī to Pāvā.
Campā was the capital of Anga, which, after many vicissitudes of fortune in its war with Magadha, was conquered in Mahāvīra's time by Śrenika Bimbisāra and permanently annexed to Magadha. Anga of the Sanskrit Epics comprised modern district of Bhagalpur and Monghyr and extended northwards up to the river Kosi. Its capital Campā 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 Campānagara and Campāpura near Bhagalpur.
Prsticampā must have been a place not far from Campā One of the Pāli Jätakas mentions a town, known by the name of Käla-Campā and situated in the kingdom of Anga.
Vaiśālī (modern Besarh in the Muzaffarpur District of Bihar) was the chief seat of government
? Most probably Pāvā is the same as Kasia situated on the little Gandak river to the cast of the district of Gorakhpur It is considered as one of the sacred places of the Jains. Its ancient name was Pāpā or Appāpuri,