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From ancient times, the territory north of the Ganges was called Videha and the south of it was well known as Magadha. This very territory of Videha is mentioned by the name Tira-bhukti, and the current form of it, at present, is Tirhut. Purānas mention the boundary of Tīra-bhukti thus: गङ्गा-हिमवतोर्मध्ये नदीपञ्चदशान्तरे, तीरभुक्तिरिति ख्यातो देशः परम-पावनः । कैशिकी तु समारभ्य गण्डकीमधिगम्य वै, योजनानि चतुर्विंशद् व्यायामः परिकीर्तितः। गङ्गा-प्रवाहमारभ्य यावद् हैमवतं वरम्, विस्तारः षोडशं प्रोक्तो देशस्य कुल-नन्दन। Thus the boundaries of Videha or Tīra-bhukti (Tirhut) are definite, it was bounded by the Himālayas on the north, by Ganges on the south, by Kaisiki on the east and by Gandaki on the west. These boundaries cover quite a wide area, and for us the question is where Kundapura is to be located there. To answer this question, our attention is attracted by another fact that Mahāvīra is called Jñātr-kulotpanna, jñātrputra etc. In an ancient Buddhist text, Mahā-vastu, there is some indication as to where the clan of Jñātr-Kșatriyas lived. The context is like this. Lord Buddha crosses Ganges, and is proceeding towards the Vaishali (Vaiśālī) Sangha; and various Ksatriya clans like the Licchavis welcome him in great eclat: स्फीतानि राज्यानि प्रशास्यमाना सम्यग् राज्यानि करोन्ति ज्ञातयः, तथा इमे लेच्छविमध्ये सन्तो देवेहि शास्ता उपमामकासि। Among the Ksatriya clans, which gave an ovation to Buddha, there was that known as jñātrs who ruled their extensive (sphīta = viśāla) terriory in such a worthy manner that Buddha himself compared them (who were respectable and splendid) with gods. This reference proves that the Jñātr-Kșatriyas lived in Vaiśāli, and they had quite a respectable position in the Licchavi-gana. It seems that the prestige of the Jñātr family had increased due to their leader Siddhārtha who was at the head of the Vaishali Gaņa, as its ruler, and who was the son-in-law (or brother-in-law) of king Cetaka. Priyakāriņi (or Trisalā), the daughter (or sister) of Cetaka was married to king Siddhārtha, the prominent ruler of the Jñātr family.
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