________________ VAISALI IN ANCIENT LITERATURE Dr. B. C. LAW D. LITT., Ph. D., M. A., B. L., F. R. A.S., F. R. A, S. B. 1. Origin, Importance & Location Vaisali, the large city', is famous in Indian history as the capital of the Licchavirajas and the head-quarters of the great and powerful Vajjian confederacy. It is closely associated with sacred memories of the founders of Jainism and Buddhism and with the two great faiths that evolved in north-eastern India, five hundred years before the birth of Christ. It really claims Mahavira the celebrated founder of Jainism as its own citizen. Mahavira is spoken as Vesalie or Vaisalika, i. e., an inhabitant of Vaisali. Abhayadeva in his commentary on the Bhagavai isutra (2. 1; 12, 2) explains Vaisalika by Mahavira and speaks of Visala as Mabavira-janani' or the mother of Mahavira. The venerable ascetic Mabavira, a Videba, son of Videhadatta, a native of Videba, a prince of Videha, bad lived 30 years in Videha, the capital of which was Vaisali, when his parents died.8 During his later ascetic life Mahavira did not neglect the city of his birth, and out of forty-two * rainy seasons during this period of his life he passed no less than twelve at Vaisali.4 Vaisali was also hallowed by the dust of the feet of the Buddba early in his career and many of his immortal discourses were delivered bere either at the mango-grove of Ambapali in the outskirts 1. Jacobi, Jaina Sutra, I, Intro. xi. 2. Weber, Indische Studien, Band xvi, p. 263. "Auch Abhayadeva zu Bhag. 2, 1. 12, 2. erklart Vaicalika durch Mahavira, und zwar als Metronymicum (!); Vicala Mahaviru janani." 3. Jacobi, Jaina Sutra 1, 256; Kalpa Sutra, Sec. 110. 4. Jacobi, Kalpasutra, sec. 122. 22
