Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

SR No.: 011077
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company
Publication Year: 1947
Total Pages: 429
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 317

GEOGRAPHICAL LEXICON
309
Mahurā is described as a very ancient city in the Jain texts487 Mention is made of a jewelled thūbha in Mahurā, over which there arose a quarrel between Jains and Buddhists, resulting in the defeat of the latter. 488
Mahurā had been a grcat centre of activities of the Jains in ancient days. It is said that the citizens of Mahurā and the ninety six villages adjoining it, installed the Jain idols in their houses and the court-yards.189
It is mentioned that Mahui ā was visited by Mahāvira, 480 Ajja Mangu491 and Ajja Rakkhiya 492 Mahurā is described as a centre of heretical ascctics (pakhandigabbha) 408
Mahurā was an emporium of trade and people lived here on trade and not on agriculture 404 It is quoted as an example of thalapattana where goods were carried by land route.496
In Palı literature five disadvantages are described in Madhurā The ground was uneven, thcre was much dust, there were fierce dogs, there were bestial yakkhas and alms were obtained with difficulty. Buddha viewed the city with disfavour 486
Mahurā is identified with Maholi, five miles to the south-west of the present town of Mathura or Muttra.407
Majjhadesa-Middle Country
Majjhimadesa is mentioned in the Nāyādhammakaha.498 According to Jains, the country of Kosala was termed as Madhyadesa. 400
According to thc Purānas, Ayodhā was the capital of Madhyadesa. 800
Majjhamıya—a city.
Majjhamiyā is mentioned in the Vivāgasuya.601 Majjhimilla is also mentioned a sākha in the Kalpasūtra.602
It is identified with Nagari near Chittor in southern Rajputana. 503
4
498 Sim
497 Uttar a Cup 82 488 Vya Bhā 5 27f, also cf Jambuswamicarta of Rajamalla, ed. by Jagdishchandra
Jain, Bombay, 1936, where more than five hundred stūpas are mentioned in Mathurā, also cf. Bihackathākosa (12.132) In the Rāmāyana (VII 70.5) also Mathurā is described
as "devamrmita." 489 Brh Bha., 1 1774 f
Viva 6, p. 35 f. 491 Gaccha Wr., p 116 a ; Ava. Ci , If, p. 80. 492 Ava Cū, p. 411 f.
Acā. Cū., p. 163. Bth Bha Vf., 1. 1239. Acā. Cu , 7, P 281.
Anguttara, III, P 256 For the description of Mathura, see Harivansa (I. 54. 56 ff'). 497 CAG1, p. 427f. 488 8, p 120.
Jambu 70, p 278. Pargitar, A.I.H T., p. 257, for the Buddhist conception of Majjhimadesa, see
Fataka (I, p. 49) 601 II, 5, P 64-1. 60% 8, p 232. 503 John Allan, Coins of Ancient India, p. xiv.