Tambuvan Aur Arya Vajra

Here is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Tambuvan aur Arya Vajra" by Vijayendrasuri:

This text, "Tambuvan aur Arya Vajra," authored by Acharya Vijayendrasuri, focuses on the life and significance of Arya Vajra, a prominent figure in Jain tradition, and establishes the location of Tambuvan, his birthplace.

Arya Vajra's Significance:

• Arya Vajra is a highly revered figure in Jain scriptures. He is identified as the 18th successor in the lineage of chief disciples of Sudharma Swami.
• His life spanned 88 years, 7 months, and 7 days, with 8 years spent as a householder, 44 years as an ascetic, and 36 years as a "Yugapradhan" (leader of a specific period).
• He attained nirvana 548 years after Lord Mahavir.

The Location of Tambuvan:

• Jain Scriptures: Numerous Jain texts consistently identify Tambuvan as the birthplace of Arya Vajra. The text provides multiple citations from influential works like Avashyak Niyukti, Avashyak Churni, Avashyak Haribhadriya Tika, Avashyak Malayagiri Tika, Upadeshmala Satika, Prabhavaka Charitra, Rishimandal Prakaran, Parishisht Parva, and Kalpa Sutra Kiravali. These scriptures mention that Tambuvan was a settlement located in the Avantijanapada (Avanti region) and was home to Arya Vajra's father, Dhanagiri.
• Buddhist Texts: The Sutta Nipata, in its account of the travels of Bavari's disciples, mentions "Vanasahvaya." The 5th-century commentator Buddhaghosa clarifies that "Vanasahvaya" is synonymous with Tambuvan or "Vanasavatti" (meaning "called Van"). This connection places Tambuvan in the Avanti kingdom, on the route to Kosambi, after Vidisha (modern Bhilsa).
• Vedic and other Texts:
  • Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita also mentions Tambuvan.
  • Sanchi Inscriptions: Several inscriptions found at Sanchi repeatedly mention Tambuvan, indicating donations made by residents of this settlement, including householders and a nun named Veera. One inscription details the construction of a temple in Tambuvan during the reign of Kumaragupta.
  • Other Historical Mentions: The text refers to other mentions of Tambuvan in historical contexts, solidifying its presence in ancient Indian literature and archaeology.

The Avanti Region:

• Jain texts, such as Hemachandra's Abhidhanachintamani and Amarakosha, identify Avanti with Malava.
• The text discusses the significance of the Malava region in Jain and Buddhist contexts. While mentioned in the Bhagavati Sutra as one of the 16 Janapadas, it was sometimes considered outside the "Arya Desha" (Aryan lands) as defined by Buddha, who did not personally visit the region.
• Vedic literature, including the Ramayana and Mahabharata, extensively mentions the Avanti region, its cities like Ujjain, and its rulers. Numerous Puranas, such as the Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, Garuda Purana, and Bhagavata Purana, also attest to the importance of Avanti and its capital, Ujjain, often highlighting it as a holy and significant site.
• Buddhist literature also recognizes Avanti as a major Janapada with Ujjain as its capital, and notes that at one point, Mahishmati was also its capital. The text references the Mahavagga which places Avanti in the Dakshinapatha (southern region).

Current Location of Tambuvan:

• Based on archaeological evidence and textual references, Tambuvan is identified with Tumain (also called Tumen or Tumen), located in the Guna district of Madhya Pradesh.
• Tumain is situated about 6 miles southeast of Takneri (now Ashok Nagar), which lies on the Bina-Kota railway line.

The Life of Arya Vajra:

• Parentage: Arya Vajra's father was Dhanagiri, a resident of Tambuvan. The term "Ibha-putra" (son of Ibha) is used for Dhanagiri. "Ibha" and "Vaniya" are considered synonymous, both referring to a merchant or wealthy person. Dhanagiri belonged to the Gautam gotra.
• Early Life: Dhanagiri, a religious person, initially informed potential marriage alliances that he intended to become an ascetic. However, a wealthy merchant named Dhanpal arranged the marriage of his daughter Sunanda to Dhanagiri. Dhanagiri left his pregnant wife to take diksha (initiation) from Singhagiri.
• Birth and Naming: Upon the child's birth, he experienced jati-smaran (recollection of past lives) upon hearing about his father's renunciation. The infant cried continuously, seemingly to alleviate his mother's attachment. Once, while Dhanagiri and another monk were collecting alms, Sunanda, weary of the child, handed him to Dhanagiri. Due to the child's immense weight, the Guru named him Vajra and placed him with a householder for upbringing.
• Education and Powers: In his childhood, through association with Jain nuns and laywomen, Vajra mastered all eleven angas (limbs of Jain scripture). At the age of three, his mother attempted to lure him back with worldly temptations, but he remained steadfast and took his father's rajoharana (broom used by ascetics).
• Diksha and Accomplishments: At the age of eight, Vajra received diksha from his guru. Even at this young age, he possessed vaikriya labdhi (supernatural power to change form) and akashgamini vidya (power to travel through the sky). Arya Vajra studied the ten purvas from Bhadra Gupta in Ujjain.
• Ministry and Miracles: Arya Vajra later traveled to Pataliputra, where he initiated Rukmini, a merchant's daughter, who wished to marry him. From Pataliputra, he went to Purika. In Purika, the Buddhist king had prohibited the use of flowers in Jain temples. On the request of his disciples during Paryushana, Arya Vajra used his akashgamini vidya to go to Maheshwaripuri (Varanasi), collect flowers from a gardener, and then brought them via a "flower-chariot" from "Hutashanavana" on the Himavat mountains. This act demonstrated the glory of the Jain faith and even converted the Buddhist king.
• Renunciation and Nirvana: One day, a piece of ginger (goth) placed on his ear for relief from a cough fell to the ground. Realizing this indicated his impending death, Arya Vajra instructed his disciples to leave the area, predicting a 12-year famine. He then proceeded to the Rathavarta mountain (also known as Gajagrapada Giri or Indrapada), near Vidisha, where he undertook a fast and attained heaven. The text emphasizes that Rathavarta was near Vidisha and clarifies that a misattribution by some scholars regarding this location and a statue of Bahubali is incorrect.

The Title "Arya":

• The title "Arya" was used before the names of prominent Yugapradhana acharyas, a tradition that continued until Arya Vajrasen, who passed away in 620 CE.

In essence, the text is a scholarly exploration of the geographical and historical context surrounding Arya Vajra, establishing his origins in Tambuvan and detailing his significant contributions to the Jain tradition, supported by extensive textual and archaeological evidence.