Prachin Jain Sthal Bhaddilpur Aetihasikta

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prachin Jain Sthal Bhaddilpur Aetihasikta" by K.C. Jain, based on the provided pages:

The book focuses on the historical significance of Bhaddilpur as an ancient Jain site. It asserts that Bhaddilpur was a major center of Jainism in ancient times. According to Jain traditions, it was the birthplace of the tenth Tirthankara, Sheetalnath, and was also visited by the 22nd Tirthankara, Arishtanemi. Furthermore, it is believed that the 24th Tirthankara, Mahavir, spent his fifth Chaturmasa (a four-month retreat) there.

The text highlights that the writer Sanghadas Gani, in his work "Vasudev Hindi" (around the 4th century), mentions that Vasudev traveled to the city of Bhaddilpur with Abyumant and married Princess Punda there. Jain Pattavalis (genealogies of monastic lineages) consistently state that the first twenty-six Bhattarakas (heads of monastic seats) of the Mul Sangh (the original monastic order) were based in Bhaddilpur. The 27th Bhattarka, Mahakirti, who was born in Mahilpur, later moved his seat from Bhaddilpur to Ujjain.

Bhaddilpur is identified as the capital of the Malaya kingdom. Malaya is considered one of the 25 Arya Deshas (civilized regions) and is also mentioned among the sixteen Mahajanapadas in the Bhagavati Sutra. However, the precise location of Bhaddilpur within the Malaya country is a subject of scholarly debate, with various opinions existing among researchers.

The book notes that four published Pattavalis of the Mul Sangh do not mention Bhaddilpur's location in Malwa. It suggests that these Pattavalis, being of later origin, might be unreliable, and that ancient literature and inscriptions do not identify any ancient site named Bhaddilpur in Malwa. It is also pointed out that Malwa was not known as Malaya during ancient times, leading to potential confusion by later writers.

The author critically examines the theory proposed by Professor Jagdish Chandra Jain, which identifies Bhaddilpur with Badia village in Hazaribagh district, Bihar. This theory is deemed inaccurate because the region was not known as Malaya in ancient times, and there is no literary or epigraphic evidence to support the identification of Badia with Bhaddilpur. Moreover, Badia is not supported as the original seat of the ancient Bhattarakas of the Mul Sangh.

Based on the available evidence, the text strongly suggests that Bhaddilpur, associated with Jainism, was located in South India. It was the capital of the Malaya kingdom. The origin of the word "Malaya" from the Dravidian word "malai," meaning "mountain," supports the possibility of a southern location for this kingdom. The Amarokosha and Kalidasa's Raghuvansha also place the Malaya region in South India. Furthermore, an inscription from Bilhadi mentions that the Kalchuri king Shankar Gana of Tripuri (878-888 CE) invaded the Malaya country.

The mention of Malaya and Bhaddilpur in Jain texts indicates the far-reaching influence of Jainism in South India from very ancient times. While later Jain authors attempted to link ancient Jain sites to Tirthankaras, a direct connection might not always exist. The presence of place names ending in "malai" in the South further strengthens the argument for the location of the ancient Malaya kingdom there.

The oldest Pattavali of the Mul Sangh also points to Bhaddilpur's location in the South. The text emphasizes that the first twenty-six Bhattarakas of the Mul Sangh were seated in Bhaddilpur. The founder of the Mul Sangh, Kundakunda, also resided in the South, and later Bhattarakas of the same lineage served in South India for twenty-five generations. There is no evidence suggesting the existence of such an ancient Mul Sangh elsewhere. Therefore, the location of Bhaddilpur, the site of the first seat of this Mul Sangh, must be in the South, although its precise identification remains elusive.

The text includes a lyrical passage that seems to describe a spiritual journey and the establishment of the Bhattarka seat. It mentions that after twenty-six Bhattarakas were seated in Bhaddilpur in the South, the tradition continued with other Munis. It also refers to the 86th year and the establishment of seats by six Munis, who attained the Bhattarka-pada and became beacons of dharma. This passage is attributed to "Buddhi-vilas" by Bastaram Shah.

In essence, the book argues for the southern location of Bhaddilpur, a significant ancient Jain center and the initial seat of the Mul Sangh, based on textual evidence and the linguistic and geographical associations of the Malaya region. While its exact geographical identification is still sought, its importance in the history of Jainism, particularly in South India, is underscored.