Itineraries of Mahavira in Southeastern India
Summary
Dr. T. V. G. Sastri’s article “Itineraries of Mahavira in Southeastern India” examines the southward spread of Jainism into Andhra Pradesh by tracing Mahavira’s documented journeys, archaeological finds, and linguistic clues embedded in local place names and oral traditions. Key Points: 1. Etymology and Place Names i) Sites like Vaddamanu, Vijayawada (Vanijjagama), Choragudi (Choreya Sannivesa), and Bhattiprolu (Bhaddiya/Pratipalapura) are linked to Mahavira’s route or early Jain missionary activity. ii) Many toponyms mirror those recorded in Mahavira’s travels through Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa. 2. Early Jain Vestiges i) While the earliest Jain shrine in the Krishna valley dates to the 7th century CE, pottery and inscriptions at Vaddamanu suggest Jain presence as early as the 3rd–4th century BCE. ii) These discoveries challenge the view of a late southern arrival and highlight coexistence and competition with Buddhism. 3. Trade and Missionary Expansion i) Jain emissaries likely used Krishna and Godavari trade routes to carry teachings southward. ii) Andhra place names such as Bhogapura, Hathigama, Nandigama, and Ambagama reflect northern parallels, indicating Jain merchant settlements. 4. Cultural Layers and Jain–Buddhist Interactions i) Jain relics are found alongside or within Buddhist stupas at sites like Bhattiprolu, pointing to early interfaith dynamics. ii) Conversion legends of figures like King Dhanada underscore the rivalry and mutual influence between Jainism and Buddhism. 5. Mahavira’s Travels i) Sastri reconstructs Mahavira’s 13-year itinerant ministry across present-day Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa, detailing his rainy-season sojourns. ii) He identifies locations such as Attiyagama (Burdwan), Kayangala (Kankajol), Savatthi (Sravasti), Alabhi (Aviha), Bhaddiya (Bhattiprolu?), and Vanijjagama (Vijayawada). 6. Significance of Mosali i) Mosali (modern Masulipatnam) emerges as a major Jain hub due to its fertile environs and port access. ii) Villages like Vuyyuru, Kollur, Chiluvuru, and Pedana appear in both texts and inscriptions, confirming widespread Jain activity.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
Dr. Sastri’s interdisciplinary study knits together textual evidence, archaeological data, and linguistic traces to map Mahavira’s influence in Southeastern India. It reveals how trade-based missionary networks established early Jain settlements, many of which survive today in the very names of Andhra villages.