Sindhu Desa Of Jaina Literature Is Tirabhukti

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The article "Sindhu-desa Of Jaina Literature is Tirabhukti (North Bihar)" by Yogendra Mishra addresses a puzzle presented by early Digambara Jain scriptures. These texts, when describing the birthplace of Vardhamāna Mahāvīra, place Viśālā or Vaiśālī, ruled by Cetaka, in a region identified as Sindhu-deśa or Sindhu-viṣaya. This is contrary to the known geographical location of Vaiśālī in North Bihar.

Mishra begins by referencing the work of Kamta Prasad Jain, who in 1936 highlighted this discrepancy and provided several quotations from Digambara Jain works to support his observation:

• Vimala-Purāṇa: States that Vaiśālī city is situated in Sindhu-deśa and that Cetaka was its king.
• Śrenikā-Caritra: Describes Vaiśālī as a beautiful city in Sindhu-deśa, with Cetaka as its ruler and Subhadrā as his chief queen.
• Ārādhana-Kathā-Koṣa: Mentions Cetaka as king in the city of Vaiśālā in Sindhu-deśa.
• Uttara-Purāṇa (75): Places the territory of Cetaka in the region called Sindhu-khya.

Kamta Prasad Jain proposed two potential explanations for this geographical placement:

1. Equating Sindhu-deśa with Vṛji-deśa: The authors might have considered Sindhu-deśa and Vṛji-deśa (the region where Vaiśālī was located) to be the same.
2. Confusion with Ujjayini: Ujjayini in Avanti was also known as Viśālā, and it was located near a river called Sindhu. This proximity, coupled with the fact that Ujjayini was more frequented by Digambara writers, might have led to confusion between the two Viśālās. Additionally, the historical decline of Vaiśālī (as noted by Hiuen Tsiang) might have contributed to Jain writers forgetting its exact location.

Yogendra Mishra's Counter-Argument and Proposed Solution:

Mishra, however, offers a different interpretation. He argues that the Digambara Jain authors did know the correct geographical position of Vaiśālī and Kundapura. Instead of a confusion, he suggests that they simply used Sindhu-deśa or Sindhu-viṣaya as a synonym for Tīrabhukti, the historical name for North Bihar.

His reasoning is as follows:

• Tīrabhukti as "Province of Rivers": The oldest name for North Bihar was Videha. From the Gupta period onwards, it became known as Tīrabhukti, which literally translates to "the Province or Country situated on the Banks (of Rivers)."
• Synonymity with "Sindhu-deśa": In poetic and literary contexts, synonyms are often used freely. Since "river" can be translated as "sindhu," the "Province or Country of Rivers" (Tīrabhukti) could also be poetically referred to as Sindhu-deśa or Sindhu-viṣaya.

Confirmation and Supporting Evidence:

Mishra provides further evidence to support his thesis:

• Proximity to Magadha: The Jain Uttara-Purāṇa (75) places Cetaka's territory near Rājagṛha, the capital of Magadha. This geographical proximity indicates that the region being discussed was indeed Eastern India, not the Indus Valley or Central India.
• Interchangeability of "Deśa" and "Viṣaya": Mishra highlights that "deśa" and "viṣaya" have been used interchangeably in early Jain literature, as seen in quotations from Jinasena, Guṇabhadra, and Sakalakīrti. These scholars use "deśa" and "viṣaya" to refer to regions, including Videha and specifically areas associated with Kundapura, confirming the fluidity of these terms.

Conclusion:

Therefore, Mishra concludes that the Digambara Jain writers did not mistakenly believe Vaiśālī was in the Indus Valley or Central India. Their use of "Sindhu-deśa" or "Sindhu-viṣaya" instead of "Tīrabhukti" was a literary choice, a synonymity used for stylistic or poetic reasons, rather than a geographical misplacement. The transformation of Tīrabhukti into Sindhu-deśa or Sindhu-viṣaya was a linguistic and literary device.