Ucchairnagar Shakha Ke Utpatti Sthal Evam Umaswati Ke Janmasthan Ki Pahechan

This document, titled "Ucchairnagar Shakha ke Utpatti Sthal evam Umaswati ke Janmasthan ki Pahechan" (Identification of the Origin of the Ucchairnagar Branch and the Birthplace of Umaswati) by Sagarmal Jain, aims to identify the geographical origins of the Ucchairnagar branch of Jainism and the birthplace of the revered Acharya Umaswati, the author of the Tattvarthasutra.

The author begins by stating that Umaswati, in the final colophon of his Tattvarthasutra Bhasya, identified himself with the Ucchairnagar branch and mentioned Nyagrodhika as his birthplace. The article's primary objective is to locate these two significant places.

The Ucchairnagar Branch:

• The existence of the Ucchairnagar branch is corroborated not only in Umaswati's Tattvarthasutra Bhasya but also in the Sthaviravali (list of elders) of the Kalpasutra, considered authoritative in the Shvetambara tradition, and in twenty inscriptions from Mathura.
• According to the Kalpasutra Sthaviravali, the Ucchairnagar branch was a branch of the Kotikgan. The Kotikgan itself originated from Arya Susthit of Kotivarsha, which archaeologists identify with Dinajpur in North Bengal. The Ucchairnagar branch is noted as originating from Arya Shanti Shrenik within this Kotikgan.
• An analysis of the various Ganas (groups), Kulas (lineages), and Shakhas (branches) in Jainism reveals that these classifications were primarily associated with places or cities rather than individuals. For example, the Varan Gana was related to Varnavarta, and the Kotikgan to Kotivarsha. While some Ganas were linked to individuals, branches like Kaushambi, Kodambani, Chandranagari, Madhyamika, Saurashtrika, and Ucchairnagar were predominantly named after cities. Kulas, on the other hand, were mainly associated with individuals.

Debates and Theories regarding Ucchairnagar:

• The connection of the Ucchairnagar branch to Bulandshahr was proposed by Muni Kalyanvijayji and Kapadiaji, and later followed by Pt. Sukhlalji, based on the mention of "Uccha Nagar" (High City) as a place.
• Prof. Kapadia, while acknowledging that the branch was likely named after a city, found its identification difficult due to the presence of numerous villages and cities ending with "Nagar." He referenced Cunningham's belief that it might be related to "Uchha Nagar."
• Cunningham, in the 14th volume of the Archaeological Survey of India, equated Bulandshahr with "Uchha Nagar." Based on this, Muni Kalyanvijayji concluded that the Uccha Nagari branch originated from the ancient Uccha Nagari, which is now called Bulandshahr.
• Pt. Sukhlalji also agreed that the "Ucchairnagar" branch, with its Prakrit form "Ucchanagar," was named after a village or city, but its exact location was difficult to determine. He considered "Badnagar" in Gujarat but found the connection weak, questioning its existence during the branch's formation and the extent of Jain involvement. He also noted that Jain acharyas of that period primarily traveled in the Ganga-Yamuna region, making a strong connection to Badnagar unlikely.
• Cunningham's theory linked the geographical name to a fort called "Uchhanagar" within modern Bulandshahr in the North-Western Provinces. However, the author of the article points out several discrepancies:
  • The name "Barn" or "Baran" is mentioned for Bulandshahr, with four coins found there. Muslim writers called it Baran. Cunningham believed it was named after Raja Ahirbaran of the Tomar dynasty, but the date is unknown. He also suggested that its location on a high mound led to it being called "Ucha Gaon" or "Ucha Nagar" by Hindus and "Bulandshahr" by Muslims.
  • The author argues that for Bulandshahr to be linked to the Ucchairnagar branch, its existence should be around the 1st century BCE, and it should have been known as Uchhanagar then. While the ancient name "Baran" is mentioned, it is not known to predate the 9th-10th century CE. Cunningham also expressed inability to ascertain when Baran became Bulandshahr. The author finds Cunningham's idea that it was called "Ucha Gaon" or "Ucha Nagar" by Hindus to be mere speculation without evidence.
  • The name "Baran" is also noted to be mentioned by Muslim historians only after the 10th century CE. The fort of Uchha Gaon is linked to the Tomar dynasty's Raja Ahirbaran and is considered to be from the Shunga period. Coins found there bear the inscription "Govitasbaranye," suggesting a connection to Varnavata or Barnavata.

Proposed Origin of the Ucchairnagar Branch: Uchera (Madhya Pradesh)

• The author's research leads to the conclusion that the Ucchairnagar branch originated from Uchera (Uchhakalpa Nagar) in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh.
• Uchera is located about 11 km south of Satna station. The famous Bharhut stupa is situated about 7 km northeast of Uchera, indicating the antiquity of the place.
• The ancient city was situated on a plateau, which explains its name. Local residents confirmed that it was previously called Uchhakalpanagari and yielded significant archaeological material. Copper-plate inscriptions from the Gupta period (5th century CE) found here explicitly mention "Uchakalpha."
• Cunningham himself suggested a possibility of these coins being related to Varnavata or Barnavata. Barnavata is mentioned in the Mahabharata as the site where the Kauravas built a lac palace to burn the Pandavas. Barnavata was located on the route from Vaishali/Pataliputra to Bharukachha, or from Shravasti to Varanasi. It was also on the route from Vaishali/Pataliputra via Padmavati (Pawaya) and Gopadri (Gwalior) to Mathura.
• The author argues that Barnavata, from which the Jain "Baran Gana" originated (mentioned in the Kalpasutra Sthaviravali and Mathura inscriptions), is not Bulandshahr (Baran) or Barnavata, but rather Uchhakalpa Nagar (Uchera). The reason is that the route passing through Uchera did not involve crossing major rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna, making it safer and more practical for Jain ascetics.
• This route was crucial for travel to Kausambi, Prayag, Varanasi, Pataliputra, Vidisha, and Mathura. Uchhakalpa Nagar (Uchera) served as a central hub on this route.
• The identification of Uchera is further strengthened by its sound similarity to the word "Ucchair" and the historical context of trade routes. Uchera has been known for metal alloys and bronze vessels from ancient times to the present day.
• The antiquity of Uchera is confirmed by its proximity to the Bharhut stupa, dated to the Shunga period (2nd or 1st century BCE). Coins found there further support its ancient presence.
• The author posits that the establishment of the Ucchairnagar branch occurred around the 1st century BCE, and the city of Uchhanagar existed during that time.

Umaswati's Birthplace: Nagod (Madhya Pradesh)

• Umaswati mentioned his birthplace as Nyagrodhika. Scholars have proposed various identifications for this place.
• Since Umaswati composed his Tattvarthasutra Bhasya in Kusumapura (Patna), many have attempted to locate his birthplace in that region.
• The author dismisses the identification of Nyagrodhika with Nidhoj near Rahuri in Maharashtra, proposed by Dr. Hiralal Jain. Grammatically, the Prakrit form of Nyagrodha is Nagod, not Nidhoj. Moreover, the Ucchairnagar branch, to which Umaswati belonged, was from North India, implying his connection and birthplace should also be in North India.
• The author proposes Nagod as Umaswati's birthplace. Grammatically, "Nyagrodh" (Banyan tree) can be transliterated to "Nagod" in Prakrit.
• Approximately 30 km west of the origin of the Ucchairnagar branch (Uchera) lies a town called Nigod, which was formerly an independent state under which Uchera fell.
• Archaeological findings around Nagod also suggest it was an ancient city. Prof. K.D. Bajpai has highlighted the archaeological significance of Nachna Kuthar, 24 km from Nagod. Nagod is located between Panna and Nachna Kuthar in Madhya Pradesh.
• Archaeological evidence from these areas dates back to the Shunga period, even before the 9th-10th century CE, confirming the antiquity of Nagod.
• The author notes that Umaswati's mother was called Vatsi. Both present-day Nagod and Uchera were historically part of the ancient Vatsa country. The artistic development in the Bharhut and surrounding regions was patronized by the kings of Vatsa. Uchera was a prominent city in southern Vatsa. Inscriptions from the Bharhut stupa indicate significant contributions from people of the Vatsi Gotra.
• Therefore, the author concludes that Umaswati's birthplace was Nagod (Nyagrodh), and the origin of the Ucchairnagar branch, to which he belonged, was Uchera (Uchhakalpa Nagar), located nearby.
• The distance from Nagod to Uchera and to Patna (Kusumapura) is approximately 450 km, reachable by a month's journey on foot. Umaswati himself mentions traveling (viharatapurve) to Kusumapura, suggesting that Nyagrodh (Nagod) was not in the immediate vicinity of Patna.

In essence, the article strongly advocates for Uchera in Madhya Pradesh as the origin of the Ucchairnagar branch and Nagod in Madhya Pradesh as the birthplace of Acharya Umaswati, refuting earlier theories linking the branch to Bulandshahr.