Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 28

Birthplace of Lord Mahavira Re-considered
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Nārasanda lake. The present Kammana Chaprā tentatively identified with the ancient Karmāragráma, too, is approximately at the same distance.
Thus prima-facic there is a case for regarding the cluster of villages around Chitri-Nārasanda-Bahilvārā-Babhanagari-Jatakauli as the principality of the Jñātrs and Chitri as the ancient Ksatriya-Kundagrāma and the Nārasanda lake area as the ancient Jñatrsaņda.
The Chitri site for the location of the ancient Kšatriya-Kundagrāma is preferable to Bāsokunda on the following grounds :
(0) It being situated at a distance of ten kilometers from Vaisāli, rule of a chieftain at this place seems to be more plausible.
(ii) The tenatively located Karmārgrāma, the present Kam mana Chaprā, lies at a distance of approximately ten kilometers from Närasanda (Jñatsşaņda); it is quite reasonable that Lord Malāvīra should have ended his day's journey at this place, having started it from the place of his initiation, namely the Jñatļşanda.
(iii) The two rivers or rather remains of navigation canals near this site corroborate the existence of a waterway beside Jñātņşanda and the Kțatriya Kundagrāma.
(iv) In case of the Bāsokunda site there is an isolated case of phonetic similarity with Kțatriya Kundagrāma whereas in case of the Chitri site presence of Nārasanda strengthens Chitri's phonetic similarity with Ksatriya Kundagrāma; Bahilvārā-Babhanagari, corroborates it. Moreover, presence of Jātakauli in the neighbourhood of this site proves that the principality of the Jñatrs is represented by the present cluster of villages-Cbitri, Babilvārā, Babhanagari, Jatakauli etc. and presumably the present river Bāyā marked its south western boundary.
All these facts establish at least one point that there is need for rethinking over thel ocation of Lord Mahavira's Birthplace.
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References :
1. Āyāranga--2, 15. 2. Suyagadam-1, 2; Uttarajjhayaņa-6 3. Kalpasūtra, life of Lord Mabāvira. 4. Malayagiri Vivaranam of Avasyaka.Cürpi.